Malcolm Schofield, the master of Blainscough Lodge No 8532, has been awarded a medal by the RNLI for his service to them over many years.
After receiving the award, Malcolm had the following to say: “I had a 16.5 ft fishing boat with a family member. We joined the Wyre Boat Angling Club in the 1980s. The condition for joining was that your boat had to be examined by a member of the RNLI. An RNLI member would come along and give advice on what was required to safely go to sea. They would give demonstrations on;
• How to launch and return your boat.
• How to anchor the boat safely whilst fishing.
• The correct life jackets (not buoyancy aids).
• The use of navigation lights and navigation devices and flares.
• In emergency the use of your radio with the coast guard in case of emergency.
• To inform them of your emergency, your location and the number of people onboard.
On one occasion, I was having mine checked, and the member was questioning me regarding the above. When I gave my response, he asked me how I had so much information. I informed him that I was a Royal Navy veteran and a qualified diver. He then asked me to join as a volunteer.
I took on the responsibility of conducting sea safety checks for my club and the public. I’ve lost track of how many checks I’ve performed, but our club has 70 boats. Each year, I worked alongside two other members to complete these checks. Additionally, I have given lectures about the dangers of children and teenagers jumping into quarries during the summer, highlighting the shock that can occur upon entering the water.”
This is a great achievement for Malcolm and we are all proud of him and the work he has done for the RNLI.