Boulmer Lifeboat

Having saved many lives over 160 years the men and women of Boulmer interviewed here show that this need to come to the rescue of those in danger at sea runs very deep.

A deep rooted inclination to help others shines through in this simple portrait of people of the fishing community of Boulmer, running their own lifeboat after the RNLI withdrew its service in 1967. The dedication of the community is revealed in this self-made film, by action committee secretary Edward Garrett, produced to help raise funds for the struggling lifeboat to cover this very dangerous part of the Northumberland coast.

This is the filmed part of an edition of the Tyne Tees Television programme 'Access', which included a discussion of the film. Access was one of the first television programmes, starting in 1973 along with Rowan Ayers Open Door on the BBC, to give an opportunity to local people to make their own films, with professional help. Boulmer has had a lifeboat since 1825, one of the earliest stations in the country, saving well over 230 lives. Since the RNLI decided to withdraw the service in 1968, it has been run entirely independently by the Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service (BVRS), one of only a handful. It still relies entirely on donations.