I’m Pisces…. and its not even the weekend ..comedy gold!

Actually its my star sign and is supposed to mean I have an affinity with the sea ..and do you know what? Bang on. I spent many of my formative years in St Ives and Looe and love all the old clichés surrounding the sea. The sound of waves crashing on the rocks and the smell which I learned years later was actually gas formed by bacterial genes usually on the shore…you don’t smell it when you are right out at sea! Anyway I love it. I have had various experiences at sea over the years  including one or two with sailors but we wont go into that. Nowadays I am a proud Patron of Sidmouth Lifeboat and Exmouth Coast Watch. So when my friend David, who works for Exeter Council, asked if I would like to go out with the Exmouth Harbour Master…not in any romantic way you understand ..but to see the work he and his crew do I jumped at the chance. It turned out to be one of the best days I have had this year! It was cold and grey when I knocked on the door of the Buoy Store in Exmouth a dilapidated, but listed, building. It lists all right but there are plans to give these guys, who do such a vital job, a better base. Here I met Grahame Forshaw MBE. Yes that is his name. Grahame’s been the Harbour Master for the last 15 months after 10 years at Lyme Regis and 30 years in the Royal Marines. Also Nick Stone ex Merchant Navy and police and Alan Harwood former Royal Marine 7 years in the Merchant Navy in Anti Piracy in Somalia. Handy man to have on board.  What a job they do.  What an area they are responsible for. It runs from a mile out to sea all the way past Exmouth, Dawlish, Star Cross, Topsham, Lympstone all the way up to Exeter city centre including the canal. Once I got all my safety gear on we got the boat out of Exmouth Marina and set sail. First stop was the Turf Lock where they are currently clearing the silt to allow larger vessels to get in and out safely. Then Nick hopped off to pick up the Topsham Ferry and bring it back for maintenance. Oh a word to all those living on the river particularly at Topsham..you might like to close your curtains! On the way back Nick very politely informed a speedboat full of water-skiers that they were in the wrong area and that the speed limit was 10 knots. I’d like to think they were grateful.. but I lip read! There seems no end to the things these men have to do. On call when needed, and this can be night or day, as well as making sure the environment is as safe as possible clearing dead sheep, floating trees and rotting hulks to safeguarding the gas pipes that run underneath the estuary bed, rescuing swimmers as Grahame did this summer, untangling seals, checking the 45 navigational aids and maintaining the moorings. It’s for dedicated people that’s for sure… and that’s Forshaw Grahame. ..sorry had to be done …who says,

‘A bad day on the water is better than a good day at the office.’

They’re about to launch a training scheme for volunteers who will have to be able to swim, learn how to handle the boat and understand the tides, the winds and deal with the public. Mmm. Well as long as I don’t have to tie a bowline!

Read all about it in the Western Morning News