Exmouth RNLI on Hairy Bikers Everyday Gourmet TONIGHT 8pm BBC Two
By RNLI_Exmouth | Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 13:23
The original press release in July 2012:
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Hairy Bikers (Dave and Si) talk to volunteer RNLI crew member Andy Williams.
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Diners at the table on the ramp during the event in July 2012.
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Volunteer tractor driver, Colin May receives a framed letter for his role in the rescue.
Vellums presented to Exmouth RNLI volunteers after surprise thank you meal
Following a rescue of four young men on October 23 2011, volunteer crew members Mark Champion and Andy Williams both received an inscription of thanks from the Institution on vellum for their roles. In-shore lifeboat helmsman, Roger Jackson who was awarded a bronze medal for gallantry for the same rescue, cooked a meal for 12 RNLI volunteers to thank them. The diners ate al-fresco at the top of the launching ramp on July 26 with the surprise guest TV chefs Hairy Bikers revealing their help in the kitchen.
Roger had been thinking of ways to thank his fellow volunteers ever since he had heard of his award. He felt that not only Andy Williams and Mark Champion should be thanked, but also Dr. Colin May the tractor driver who launched the in-shore lifeboat George Bearman, should be included. Also invited to the meal would be Captain Hugh Fogarty, Head of RNLI fleet operations; Exmouth RNLI Coxswain, Tim Mock; RNLI mechanic, Mark Sansom and Volunteer Deputy Launching Authority, Peter Thomas. Together with some wives and partners, this totalled 12 diners with Roger playing the role of waiter.
The 12 diners assembled at 3.30pm around a flower decorated table. Access to the ramp from the footpath was temporarily roped off, with both lifeboats positioned ready for launching. At 3.35pm, the in-shore lifeboat George Bearman was tasked to launch but was stood down three minutes later. It was a hot, sunny day with the beach full of people and this spectacle attracted many onlookers. All Exmouth RNLI volunteers were invited to the award presentation that followed at 6pm.
Roger appeared, welcomed the diners and introduced the real surprise. TV chefs Hairy Bikers appeared at the bow of the all-weather lifeboat Margaret Jean and revealed they had helped Roger cook their meal. The BBC had been filming the celebrity chefs for two days at Exmouth RNLI to learn more about Roger's role in the charity that saves lives at sea.
Captain Hugh Fogarty presented Roger with a framed vellum for his bronze medal for gallantry, which he had previously been awarded at London's Barbican. Hairy Biker, Dave Myers presented Mark Champion with his framed vellum and Hairy Biker, Simon King presented Andy Williams with his. A framed letter of thanks from the life-saving at sea charity's Chief Executive, Paul Boissier was presented to Tooltrak driver, Colin May. Shore workers rarely receive such awards, but on this occasion RNLI chiefs recognised Dr. May's persistence to launch in such severe sea conditions. Champagne was served to all Exmouth RNLI volunteers present at Roger's request to share the station's achievements.
The Hairy Bikers were filming with the RNLI as part of a new series called 'Everyday Gourmet' expected to be broadcast on BBC Two in the New Year.
Comments
Re: Hairy Bikers cook for Exmouth RNLI. Although it was good to see that BBC2's Hairy Bikers visited Exmouth last year, cooked for the RNLI and presented two members of the Exmouth RNLI crew with framed vellums, it was a shame that they couldn't have shopped within the town centre for their ingredients. Sure they bought local produce, but it seemed that they purchased everything from Darts Farm, which they incorrectly described as being in Exmouth.
Darts Farm has an Exeter postcode and is 6.2 miles from the RNLI boathouse on Exmouth's seafront.
At the time the Hairy Bikers visited Exmouth, Stokes greengrocers, selling a range of local veg, would have still been open in the town's Magnolia Centre. (Sadly it's gone now). There are two wet fish shops in Exmouth, where they could have sourced their piscatorial produce - including Exe mussels. And, if the timing had been right, the Hairy Bikers could have shopped at our fortnightly farmers' market in The Strand, where there's plenty of local produce.
So, good though it was to see that the Hairy Bikers visited our wonderful town and great to see that they filmed the seafront on a sunny day with many visitors enjoying themselves on our beach, what a shame that they couldn't have shopped more locally. It would have given our town-centre shops a much-needed higher profile along with a welcome boost to Exmouth's economy.
I suppose that a 12.4 mile round trip on their motor bikes to pick up some shopping is peanuts to the Hairy Bikers, but it doesn't set a great example when we should all be thinking about sustainability and building the local resilience of the town.
By TheGreenMan at 08:03 on 14/02/13
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