Skegness Magazine

28th July 2007

The Mayor of Skegness, Coun Ken Milner, was ‘rescued’ from the sea today in a bid to raise funds for his chosen charity, Skegness Lifeboat Appeal.

The ‘rescue’, which was part of RNLI Lifeboat Week, took place at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and was watched by hundreds of holidaymakers from the beach.

We caught up with Mr Mayor as he was changing into his wet suit and asked him if he was looking forward to his ‘ordeal’. “I’m a bit nervous,” he said, “but I’ve every confidence that the Skegness Lifeboat crew will rescue me and get me safely back on dry land in time for the Illuminations Switch On this evening!”

Mr Mayor made his way down to the water’s edge, and gingerly entered the foreboding North Sea.

“It’s c-c-cold…”, he chattered…

(picture of Mayor looking cold compiled by Paul Gooch)

No turning back now, Mr Mayor. He (reluctantly?) mounted his jetski and was whisked out to sea.

Oh my gosh! The jetski engine has failed! (just another day in the life of the Skegness Lifeboat crew…) Mayday – Mayday! The Mayor of Skegness is in distress at sea!

And, thrown in for good measure, there are two RAF survival rafts ‘in peril on the sea’.

Launch the lifeboats!

The RAF survival crew was brought back safely…

… and, thankfully, so was the Mayor of Skegness! (eventually)

The Mayor of Skegness later told us that the lifeboat WAS bringing him safely back to shore, until the crew received a mayday message that two children were lost. ” The lifeboat crew quickly shed their joking and jolly mood and jumped into immediate action”, said the Mayor. The lifeboat shot straight back out to sea again, with the Mayor of Skegness onboard. The two children were later found to be safe and well, and Mr Mayor delivered to terra firma well in time for the Illuminations Switch On.

Video of the mock rescue (password ’skegness’).

Lifeboat Week 2006