John ’Sparrow’ Hardingham was coxswain of Sheringham lifeboat from January 1947 to December 1950, after being second coxswain for 23 years. While I had one year with Jimmy Dumble in charge, most of my early lifeboat training was with 'Sparrow' as coxswain.
 |
| Coxswain John 'Sparrow' Hardingham |
Although 'Sparrow' was a more reserved character than Jimmy, he had an enormous amount of lifeboat experience, which helped us out of trouble on several occasions. However, he also expected a high standard from his crew, as I found out later.
Some of the other experienced ‘old hands’ that trained us youngsters included Jimmy Scotter (bowman), Henry ‘Pinny’ Little (signalman), Teddy ‘Lux’ Craske (1st mechanic) and David ‘Demon’ Cooper.
 |
| Bowman Jimmy Scotter |
 |
| Signalman Henry 'Pinny' Little |
 |
| David 'Demon' Cooper |
 |
| 1st Mech. Teddy 'Lux' Craske |
'Sparrow'’s four years as coxswain were not trouble-free, as we shall see, but the Sheringham station's spirit was never dimmed during the difficult years following the second world war.
In those days the lifeboat station was much the same as when built in 1936-7. There was no mains electricity for the lights, instead we had a generator.
The winch for launching and hauling up the lifeboat was powered by a petrol engine. Also, there was no launching tractor at the station until 1949.
Outside, we had a turntable on which the lifeboat and carriage had to be placed with only inches to spare.
 |
| Launching 'Foresters Centenary' |
When the winch wire had been placed in the main block, the head launcher would give the order to pull the lifeboat onto the slipway. The coxswain and crew would board and prepare the lifeboat for launching, then the head launcher would get the lifeboat to the launch position.
At this point the coxswain took control and decided on the exact time for the lifeboat to slip off the carriage – a critical decision in rough weather.
The mechanic would immediately engage full power from the lifeboat’s 35hp petrol engine and everyone would hold their breath until the lifeboat was away safely from the shore.
'Sparrow'’s first year as coxswain, 1947, had gone well, with assistance to 'El Morro' and lives saved from the ketch ‘Livre’, however, 1948 did not continue in the same way.
A routine launch to escort local fishing boats was made on 6th February. Also, assistance was given to Steamer ‘Gold Drift’ in June, although this call did not get onto the service boards in the boathouse.
A few weeks later the ‘Foresters Centenary’ went for her annual refit at Oulton Broad. No replacement reserve lifeboat was available to take her place and she was sorely missed as there followed three major incidents at sea in the area normally covered by our lifeboat.
On the 7th July, a day after the ‘Foresters Centenary’ left, the French collier ‘Francois Tixier’ foundered 4 miles off Sheringham, with the crew rescued by the Cromer No.1 lifeboat. Some fishermen considered this was a ‘blessing in disguise’ as they thought it was too rough for a Liverpool class lifeboat such as we had at Sheringham.
An explosion on the RFA ‘Wave Commander’ near the East Dudgeon light-vessel on 25th July, resulting in crew being injured, was answered by Wells lifeboat. One badly injured man was returned to shore. Unfortunately, the Wells lifeboat had to beach at Holkham and the casualty was ‘pushed on a hand cart over a mile to a waiting ambulance’ according to the Lifeboat journal.
Again on 25th July, just two days before the ‘Foresters Centenary’ returned, the ‘Monte Nuria’ hit a sunken wreck and her master drove her aground off Skelding Hill, just west of Sheringham.
Cromer No.1 lifeboat stoody-by the vessel while efforts were being made to refloat her. When the 'Foresters Centenary' arrived back at Sheringham, we offered to take over from the Cromer lifeboat but this was declined.
It was six days before the ‘Monte Nuria’ was pulled free by tugs.
 |
| 'Monte Nuria' with Tugs in Attendance |
Radio-telephone had been installed in the ‘Foresters Centenary’ during the refit, so at least we could communicate with ships and shore more easily than ever before.
We all knew that it would not be long before the prospects of the Sheringham lifeboat would improve.
On the family side, it was a good year with the birth of my first son.
 |
| Three Generations of 'Joyful' Wests |
