Scoff Our Sprats was the call from the Poole lifeboat crew - and scoff them they did at Lilliput Sailing Club's annual Sprat Supper.
The Poole volunteer coxswain Jonathan Clark swapped his ‘yellows’ for an apron and alongside his dad, former Poole 2nd Coxswain John Clark, and retired crew Mikey Hallard, cooked over 7 ½ stone of sprats!
Feeding a packed clubhouse, the sprats were devoured and a hearty night was had by all. Along with the proceeds of a 'nautical' raffle, topped up with a substantial donation from the sailing club, an amazing £536 was raised for the RNLI's SOS Day - a nationwide day of community fundraising.
Volunteer Coxswain Jonathan Clark said: 'We had a cracking night and there were a lot of full bellies at the end of it.'
He added: 'We always receive a warm welcome at Lilliput Sailing Club, it’s a pleasure and a privilege for us to carry on the custom of the annual Sprats Supper for the members. I took the apron over from my late godfather, Dave Coles who was helmsman on the lifeboat crew with my dad.
'The sailing club's connection with the lifeboat crew goes back a long way and it’s important to us to continue the good rapport with the club and to continue the tradition. The money raised is an added bonus and the station is extremely grateful for the continued support, this will help us to keep on launching our lifeboats, to save lives at sea.'
RNLI notes to editors
The attached pictures show the various SOS activities undertaken by the team at Poole RNLI.
RNLI media contacts
For further information please contact Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07887 855073 or by email at jclark14@sky.com or Tamsin Thomas, Public Relations Manager for the South West on 01752 850663 / 07786 668847 or by email at tamsin_thomas@rnli.org.uk