Last Saturday (18th August) on a glorious summers afternoon in Moelfre over eight thousand visitors crammed into the village and hundreds of small craft congregated in the bay for the annual Moelfre Lifeboat Day
This Anglesey Tourism Gold Award winning event certainly lived up to reputation as a fun-day out for all the family.
Hundreds of people were escorted by the Moelfre lifeboat volunteer crew around the Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station, the Moelfre lifeboat Robert and Violet, and inshore lifeboat Enfys.
Festivities began in earnest at midday with the lively sounds of the massed drums of the Batala Samba Reggae Band echoing through the village. At 1pm, the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat Robert & Violet launched for the last time on a lifeboat day. She is due to retire later in the year after nearly 25 years of sterling service to the boating fraternity and the community at large.
After several high speed passes that thrilled the massed spectators on shore Robert & Violet came into the bay closely escorted by the Moelfre RNLI inshore lifeboat and the RNLI’s capsize demonstration inshore lifeboat. To the obvious delight of the crowd the volunteer lifeboat crew expertly demonstrated the RNLI capsize and re-righting procedures.
In a touching moment for many watching at the end of the demonstration the crew held up a sign simply saying ‘Goodbye from Rob & Vie.'
Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Anthony Barclay said:
‘This is a sad moment for me and the crew, many of whom have served many years with Robert & Violet. She has done us proud and has kept us all safe over the years. She will be sadly missed; however we are looking forward to welcoming the next generation of Moelfre lifeboat later in the year’.
This year’s event has been hailed another massive success after raising over £7,000 for the RNLI, with still more money to be donated over the coming weeks.
Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station Press Officer Dave Massey said:
'The Moelfre lifeboat day is a really important event in the village, and always raises vital funds for the RNLI. As a registered charity the RNLI relies on voluntary donations to enable its volunteer lifeboat crews to continue saving lives at sea. Everyone at the Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station are tremendously grateful, and would like to thank all the carnival committee and volunteers for their dedication and hard work in organising such a successful and popular ,event and of course, the continued support and generosity of the general public'.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Moelfre RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 1830. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.moelfrelifeboat.co.uk
- Next year’s Moelfre Lifeboat day will be held on Saturday August 10th 2013.
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information please telephone Dave Massey, Moelfre RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press officer on 07917 267213