Hartlepool MP praises ‘precious’ RNLI service
Hartlepool MP Mike Hill paid a visit to Hartlepool RNLI Lifeboat Station recently to meet some of the volunteer crew members and officials who are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week to help save lives at sea
Mr Hill was shown around the boathouse and the lifeboats by assistant 2nd coxswain Matt Blanchard who said: ‘Mike showed a great deal of interest during his visit where he learnt some facts and figures about the station’s volunteers, our training and some of the call outs we have been involved with so far this year, he was also shown some of the equipment we use when out at sea on a shout.’
Following his visit to the Ferry Road lifeboat station Mr Hill said: ‘It’s been absolutely fascinating to see the amount of equipment, the number of volunteers and even learning how difficult it can be for a volunteer to get to the station through the traffic during a shout.
'It’s also been amazing to see the dedication of the volunteer crew members, and the kit the RNLI supply them with is second to none.
'I’ve also learnt how many people have been rescued this year which is a tremendous amount and just shows how busy the station is and very precious to the town.
'But you have to come here to realise the amount of work that is put in by the volunteers here.
'The level of skills and training and having the right equipment, it all just shows how safe our seas are with the RNLI in this area.
'I have nothing but praise for the men and women who crew these boats.'
Pic captions:
Hartlepool MP Mike Hill with volunteer assistant 2nd Coxswain Matt Blanchard at the Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat station.
Hartlepool MP Mike Hill (right) on the all-weather lifeboat with Hartlepool RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Chris Hornsey, crewmember Darren Killick and Deputy Launching Authority Ray Walker.
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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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