Rescuing his Cromer Cap

Robin had lost his favourite cap, his nice blue cap all the way from Cromer, a coastal town in Norfolk, UK.  It seems he had left it behind on our recent trip to the Wairarapa a week or so ago.  But where?  We had stopped at several different places and no doubt his cap had been off an on his head numerous times during the day.  A couple of phone-calls later, he had tracked it down.  The cap had been left behind at Aberdeen Restaurant in Masterton, while we were enjoying our two-for-one lunch deal.   Robin decided to get in the car, drive over the hill, and rescue his cap.  It might well be a long way to go, but after all, the Cromer Lifeboat cap is one of his favourites, and we have very happy memories of our time there.  With his cap back on his head, Robin was a very happy man. Sadly it was not the crab season at the time of our visit so did not get to taste Cromer Crabs.  Oh well maybe there will be a next time!

Reunited with his favourite cap

Way back in 1999 as we travelled around the UK we spent a very happy few days with my penfriend Janet and her husband Alan in Cromer.  They were very much involved with the  Lifeboat Trust, and took us to visit the famous Cromer Pier, from which the lifeboats are launched.

The Cromer Pier

The Trust runs a shop to raise extra funds and Robin got his cap there.  As we were visitors from the Antipodes, we so got a “behind the scenes” look at the lifeboat and it was explained to us how this craft was launched down the ramp, with the motor revving at full throttle.  This particular boat in the photo has since been replaced with a newer version.

Cromer Lifeboat – circa 1999

As one of the crew said in a newspaper interview:  “Years ago, the retired fishermen would work the lifeboats. Now they are butchers, bakers, bricklayers, all people from the town. We can go months without any calls, then get three or four in a month. You run along the pier to get to the lifeboat as quick as you can, your adrenaline is pumping, you never know what you are going to be doing in that boathouse. It could be to retrieve someone from the water, a ship run aground, a collision of tankers, a lost diver, anything. It's a little bit more exciting when you run along in a gale by the light of the moon and you are wondering what sort of night are we going to have?”.   That’s certainly the spirit of volunteering dedication, isn’t it?