May the Force be with you, Stormy Stan!
The RNLI's mascot meets his match with Star Wars' Darth Vader at a screening of the new film "Rogue One" at Rhyl's Vue cinema.
Darth Vader and his stormtroopers, together with Jedi Knights; other characters from the Star Wars series; and also superheroes from various other films; paid a visit to Rhyl's Vue cinema on Thursday 22 December, to attend a screening of the new Star Wars' film "Rogue one". The event was covered on local TV and radio.
The film features local Rhyl actor Spencer Wilding as Darth Vader. He very kindly sent an invite for the Rhyl lifeboat crew and their inshore lifeboat to attend his visit for the screening, to collect funds for the RNLI. Our mascot Stormy Stan thinks HE is a superhero, and so gladly accepted the invite, as long as the crew came along! The crew mingled with the various characters outside the Vue cinema in Rhyl, as seen in the attached photos (Courtesy Rhyl RNLI Paul Frost and Callum Robinson).
Spencer is friends with some of the crew at Rhyl, and it was with some wonder that they found themselves on the red carpet alongside Chewbacca, stormtroopers, Hellboy, Arnie and many more characters. The crew also had the opportunity to be photographed with Spencer for local and the wider press.
The crew had a brilliant time under the limelight and hopefully raised some money which will go towards the RNLI, as we celebrate being told by RNLI Headquarters that we have been allocated a new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat in the near future, to replace our Mersey-class lifeboat which is now 25 years old.
For further photographs and narrative, go to our social media platforms.
Facebook -- Rhyl Lifeboat
Twitter -- @rhyllifeboat
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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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.