Pictured presenting a cheque to Captain Roy Griffiths, Operations Manager of the Mumbles Lifeboat Station, are some of the many family and friends of the late William (Bill) Duffy. Bill from Pen Y Bryn Terrace, Ebbw Vale passed away earlier this year and his family wanted to celebrate his life in an appropriate manner.

A total of £1061 was raised for the Mumbles Lifeboat in a number of fundraising events. Cynthia Duffy said the family are extremely grateful to their friends and neighbours for their generosity and in particular wanted to thank the customer's and staff of the Castle and the Rugby Club. Indeed the fundraising events proved so enjoyable the family are going to make it an annual occurrence.

Bill often sailed "Sea Spray" with son Alan and friend Gordon Williams who all loved the sea and fishing. Bill and his son had once needed the assistance of the Mumbles Lifeboat which accounts for the bond between them and the generous donation. Some of the crew involved in that rescue are pictured in the lifeboat and the rescue has been captured in the following poem:

THE RESCUE

 By Annette Williams, Sharon Jones, Andrea Talbot and Jodie Talbot

 In loving Memory of William (Bill) Duffy 1928-2004

 We are taking the boats, down to the sea,

A full day of fishing, Dad Gordon and me,

We are bonding with nature, angling for cod,

Three men, two boats and fishing rods

I think there’s a hiccup, a bit of a mess,

All of a sudden, we are in distress

“We don’t need rescuing,” my Dad roared

But I’ve just dropped the compass overboard

“Mayday, Mayday, please keep us afloat,”

We’re sending a call for the local lifeboat

The fog is so dense, can’t see hand or fist,

Then this awesome sight comes out of the mist

The bow appears ten storey’s high

“Ahoy there’s lads,” I hear them cry

The mechanic boards to find the fault

“No major problems then, my old salt”

“It’s only the plugs the plugs that’s covered in oil,

Won’t be long till you’re on safe soil

But you need to sail with the rest of the crew,

I’ll sail her back she’ll be good as new.”

The “Sea Spray” gets back before the boat,

Gordon is waiting with a lump in his throat

No sign of his mates that he can tell,

The mechanic shouts out, “All is well.”

Unknown to all we have been put ashore,

We’re overlooking the sight that had caused a furore

It shouldn’t be funny, but we split our sides

To see Gordon struggling against the tide

Visions of joining Davy Jones’ locker,

Oh what a drama, oh what a shocker

“Thanks boys, but don’t mention this stint”

Imagine the surprise that evening in print

We made the headlines and hit the news

Imagine the family with their points of views

But home from our ordeal, home from the sea,

The local mariners, The Intrepid Three