Paul Arro remembers the tragic 1952 Bridlington Lifeboat tragedy in which three people, including a crew member, lost their lives
Paul Arro has stepped down after holding many positions at Flamborough RNLI over the last 46 years(Image: Submitted)
A long-serving treasurer of Flamborough RNLI has stepped down after 46 years of voluntary service. Paul Arro’s passion for the RNLI began in August 1952 when, at just three-years-old, he experienced the shockwaves that rippled through the town following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two swimmers and an RNLI crew member.
On Friday 19 August, 1952, the tragedy hit when two young girls needed the RNLI’s help after getting into difficulty swimming off Thornwick Bay, near Flamborough. The rescue lifeboat capsized, claiming the life of Bridlington Lifeboat Bowman Robert P Redhead. The girls, Joan Ellis and Gillian Fox, both 16, also lost their lives that day. Though he was only a toddler at the time, Paul remembers the impact it had on the small community and credits the incident for sparking an interest in lifeboats and the work of the RNLI.
Paul, who comes from a seafaring family, said “perhaps sea salt runs through my veins”. He became a member of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society in 1969 and joined the Flamborough Lifeboat Appeal Fund Committee in 1980. The committee raised more than £126,000 for upgrades to the North Landing Lifeboat Station in the early 1980s.
From there, Paul joined the Flamborough Lifeboat Station Management Committee, taking minutes of meetings since 1983. He progressed to becoming the station’s first ever honorary press officer in 1988 and was later appointed treasurer in November 1991. Paul and his wife Sylvia spent part of the early 90s running the North Landing souvenir shop, while both working full time elsewhere.
Paul is also a published author, having penned a book detailing the history of Flamborough Lifeboat Station from 1871 to 1993. The book, Safe Within The Lifeboat, raised £1,000 for the lifeboat station. In 2021, he gained the RNLI Long Service Medal to recognise 40 years of outstanding volunteer service. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he received the medal in the post and it was never formally presented.
Paul said: “I have put in a very long shift and thoroughly enjoyed my time working for Flamborough Lifeboat Station. It has been an immense pleasure to be involved and to serve such a great station. Lifeboats have been a big part of my life for so many years and that interest will hopefully continue.”
Lifeboat operations manager for Flamborough RNLI, Captain David Freeman, said: On behalf of everyone at Flamborough RNLI, we would like to thank Paul for his outstanding dedication, commitment and unwavering support over the past 46 years. His knowledge, professionalism and passion for the station have been invaluable, and his contribution to the RNLI has left a lasting legacy.
“Paul will be sorely missed in his role as treasurer, his years of service have helped shape the station we know today. We wish Paul and Sylvia a long, happy and well-deserved retirement, and we look forward to welcoming them back to the station whenever they visit. Once part of the RNLI family, always part of the RNLI family.”
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