Shipping Minister takes time out to visit Wells RNLI Lifeboat Station volunteers

The Rt. Hon. John Hayes CBE MP visited the lifeboat station to see the work of the RNLI in Wells. He was accompanied by his wife and two sons and was shown around the inshore and all-weather lifeboats.

Lifeboat Chairman, Peter Rainsford, Coxswain Allen Frary and volunteer crew greeted his party and they had the opportunity to discuss the work of the station in saving lives at sea.

He was also interested to hear the history of the station and to hear how the station volunteers work closely with the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), which comes within his responsibilities.

He also was asked by Chairman Peter Rainsford to pass on to his civil service colleagues the RNLI's appreciation for the fundraising work of The Lifeboat Fund, the official charity of the Civil Service, to raise £1.1m for the new lifeboat for Wells. This is equivalent to more than 50% of the total cost. To date nearly £1m has been raised including £400,000 funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds.

Mr Hayes said, “The RNLI do a wonderful job in in what they do rescuing those in difficulty at sea.”

John Hayes and his family regularly visit north Norfolk for their holidays. His constituency is in neighbouring South Lincolnshire. As minister of state for transport his brief covers roads, bus and taxi policies as well as maritime and shipping.

RNLI media contacts:

• For further information contact: John Mitchell, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 01328 710882 Mob: 07831 103 166 [email protected]
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) 0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 [email protected]
• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer, on 0207 6207416 or 07786 668825 or [email protected]. Alternatively, contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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