More Revelations about the Breeches Buoy

The publication of my novel Farewell Chapelon by Peter Muller has resulted in catching up with old friends, some of whom I have not seen or been in contact with for a long time.

When I was Operations Manager at MRCC (Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre) Falmouth which was over twenty years ago, the two people referred to below were staff at the MRCC. Mike Collins was one of the station’s watch keeping officers and Jenny, his wife worked in the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indications Radio Beacons) registry, the office where all of these devices were logged and their details recorded. Sadly, declining health has meant they will not been able to come to a book signing and reunion that is being planned in Cornwall. Jenny recalls some unpleasant memories she had with the breeches buoy : -

“I was going to tell you we both enjoyed your book. Mike pictured the Ops room, they are the same everywhere, and with the same sort of banter too! Another old coastguard colleague said he had enjoyed reading the book as well. Personally I had rather less of a good experience with the breeches buoy. On an exercise between one of our local rescue teams and the Ministry of Defence boat, the tripod collapsed when I was airborne and I banged down the cliff face, hurting my back in the process. The rescue team were really upset and sent me an apology and flowers and chocolates. I was in such shock I couldn’t stop crying for days. Those in higher authority played the incident down and said it was only a 9 foot drop and I would have been in no danger! In fact, I was so upset I left the coastguard and got a reception job at the Royal Duchy Hotel. However, I dearly missed working in the coastguard and returned after a year. It was then that Mike and I got together with my back still making terrible grinding noises. Mike couldn’t believe it, having known nothing about the incident. He was away at the Training School when my accident happened and I had also resigned by the time he returned to his duties. Fortunately, after several years my back did recover. That all of this had happened in flat calm weather left me very suspicious about breeches buoys! Another colleague who had accompanied me on the MOD boat had already said that you would not get him in the breaches buoy. That said, I am glad all the French people got off in your story, even If the coastguard hero was injured.”

When Jenny and I were working together at Falmouth, I knew nothing about this incident. It was especially upsetting to read about the indifference of some of her colleagues to her plight. It also shows that there was always a risk for those involved in operating, and for anybody who was carried by this now historical equipment, which for all of its faults had saved thousands of lives.

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