The Start of Duty of a Brighton & Hove Beach Lifeguard

Brighton & Hove Gazette ​

This article appeared in the Brighton & Hove Gazette on 15th August 1975, Felipe’s 24th birthday, after he and two other Lifesavers rescued 5 foreign students off Saltdean beach.    

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POEM - The Start of Duty of a Brighton & Hove Beach Lifeguard -  by Felipe Hewlett (2000)

After his breakfast say of toast, he sits on a deck-chair and fondly faces the French coast.

Owing to much swimming he has a physique to boast. If the weather be clement, he avails his body for the sun to perhaps roast.
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However, if he doesn’t do his duty properly, he could be righty admonished in a Coroner's court where his pallor could change to that of a ghost.         

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Prevention
Former Bermudan and Saltdean Beach Lifeguard Felipe Motto has always been concerned about the prevention of accidents.

"For folks who perhaps may not know, the following - if seen - are distress signals and the Coastguard in an emergency should be alerted by tel. no. 999. 

• Bonfire on a boat deck
• Lobster pot on top of a mast
• The Union Jack upside down at half-mast. 
• A person on a boat waving a paddle or oar.

In an inland waters emergency 999 informs the police.

Penalty Fine
Felipe is now retired and is a shoreline member of the RNLI. He would like to see a penalty fine introduced "to deter possible unnecessary risking of life and expenditure of persons who have gone to sea with no training, and as a result, alas, have got into trouble (as with illicit drugs or over-intoxication with alcohol.)"

3 famous people Felipe thinks were beach lifeguards:

1.   Mr. Ronald Reagan - former president of the USA
2.   Big Daddy - the wrestler
3.   Mr. Anthony Waiters - Former football goalie for Blackpool and England. Later managed the Pilgrims 'Plymouth Argyle'.
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"It's the rear end of the boat he said sternly"

Let us know in the comments below if you know of any famous people who were lifeguards?