The volunteers that make up the service have been built up from operational members of crew, shore-based and launch crew, swift water and flood rescue and land-based search and rescue trained personnel. They have all been trained to national and international standards and work selflessly to provide this vital service.
Michael is on the Board of Trustees and holds the position of Voluntary Operations Manager.

Maryport Rescue is an independent Lifeboat, Flood, Swift Water, Search and Rescue service and operates alongside all the other emergency services in the region. It is one of the very few organisations that operates on sea, river, lakes, inland waterways, as well as searching for lost/missing persons in Cumbria.

In May 2008, the charity received a Lifeboat, and the Swift Water Technician team were called in during the flooding of Cockermouth in 2009 and again in 2015. As a result, over 200 people in Cockermouth were evacuated by the team on each occasion. This is just one of many rescues that the team has been called out to assist and to offer essential support and expertise to a situation.

Maryport Rescue has grown into providing a vital service to the local and wider community of Cumbria.

Through tireless efforts with fundraising, the charity now has 2 lifeboats for ‘at sea’ rescue, 2 emergency rescue boats for inshore, swift water and flood, 2 Land Rovers, 1 Incident Response vehicle and the latest addition is a drone which will provide crucial information in rescue situations.

In 2022, Maryport Rescue became the founder members of NILA which was set up to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practice among the growing community of independent lifeboats across the United Kingdom members and to raise their profile and ensure their value is recognised nationally. The mission is to create a valued, professional and recognised resource for water-based search and rescue.

In 2023,Maryport Rescue received the King’s Award which is equivalent to an MBE and is the highest award for voluntary service and crew members were invited to Buckingham Palace to represent the charity. The King’s Award was presented at the lifeboat station by HM Lord Lieutenant Alexander Scott.

However, the charity is a self-funded, not-for-profit service with no formal links to any other organisations and must rely on donations from members of the public and businesses to stay afloat (sorry about the pun)! The charity’s funding from the government’s Department of Transport and UKSAR voluntary training fund have come to an end, with no plans to renew or replace it, but it costs around £44,000 a year to operate every year and operating costs are always rising.

I hope that you will support this amazing charity and the wonderful volunteers in any way you can, so that it can continue to flourish and enable all the voluntary crew to continue to play a vital part in the safety of all.

In the past five years, Shaun Humphreys, a fisherman from Maryport and owner of Chelaris Fresh Fish, has experienced a significant transformation in his career. After spending his entire life in fishing, he found himself growing a little weary of the routine and uncertainty regarding market prices. However, this changed dramatically as he reignited his passion for the trade.

Shaun began fishing at a young age alongside his great-uncle and transitioned to skippering his own vessels by the 1990s. Operating out of Maryport, he focused on seasonal mixed flatfish, Nephrops, and scallops. Currently, he works on his third vessel, Chelaris MT 23, with support from his brother Wayne and son Cameron.

The Covid-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in reshaping Shaun’s business model. With markets closed during lockdowns, he decided to use social media to connect with the community. This led to the creation of Chelaris Fresh Fish in the summer of 2020, allowing him to sell his catch directly from the quayside.

As demand grew, so did Shaun’s responsibilities. He now coordinates logistics and customer interactions. His long-term partner Leanne manages the sales aspect and keeps customers informed about landing times via their Facebook page.

On trading days, customers queue well in advance for fresh seafood. Shaun ensures that their best catches, such as langoustine and lobsters, are set aside for local buyers while preparing other products for shipment to markets like Fleetwood.

With this new system Shaun now supplies Michelin-starred restaurants and chefs as well as wet fish shops with a wide selection of his “catch of the day” seafood and fish.

This new selling strategy has not only changed his work routine but also enhanced his engagement with the public. He reflects on how this shift has transformed him personally; he now enjoys meeting a diverse range of people rather than working in isolation.

Overall, Shaun’s journey illustrates how adaptability and innovation can lead to renewed enthusiasm and success in traditional industries like fishing.
“The Chelaris are very generous and have fully supported the calendar with contacts of chefs and sponsors” Mandy Gruber