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Among Giants in Hastings Lifeboat House...

Lifeboats News Release

Giants visited Hastings RNLI lifeboat house as part of the town's Jack in the Green Festival, which takes place in Hastings over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Five giant characters inside the boat hall at Hastings

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

Giants inside Hastings lifeboat house
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Hastings Jack in the Green Festival is one of the biggest events in the town's calendar, and features fringe events every year. Giants have become increasingly popular over the weekend, and in a first, on Sunday (3rd May), Hastings RNLI lifeboat house hosted a visit by a number of giants. They provided a great backdrop to a giant-themed story by local children's author Ed Boxall, who entertained younger visitors (and their parents).

Paul Freathy, Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Management Group chair, said :- "We are part of the community in Hastings, and it was great to show our support for the Hastings Jack in the Green community festival. Our lifeboat house made a great venue for the event, and brought in lots of people who might not otherwise have visited us. It was a really popular event, and our shop did very well!

"Our Shannon lifeboat was due to be on display on the apron, but it was ’out on a shout’, its second in three days, both to yachts. The lifeboat was recovered just as the storytelling finished, so the audience were able to witness the spectacle of the boat coming ashore. I think this brought home the reality of what we do, save lives at sea, to everyone there."

Giants can be seen from the shop floor, though the boathouse window

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

The view from the shop window!
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A large giant almost fills the boathouse

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

Giant Hannah enters the lifeboat house
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A large audience listen tom Ed Boxall, with the giants as a backdrop

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

Storytelling by Ed Boxall underway
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A group of children listen to Ed Boxall playing a guitar, with giants as a backdrop.

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

A different use for the boathouse!
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Ed Boxall and the audience wave their hands at the giants

RNLI/Kevin Boorman

Ed animates the audience
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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Kevin Boorman
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hastings

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