St Ives RNLI station opens its doors for Lifeboat Day and Bands in the Boathouse
St Ives RNLI treasurer, Barry Hall, was delighted to report total donations and takings for the two days of £14,715 - further proof that the RNLI charity is well supported and still remains close and dear to the hearts of the general public.
On Thursday 17 August under sunny skies, the St Ives RNLI crew welcomed one of its biggest ever crowds into the lifeboat station. People of all ages were amused and entertained by a variety of events in and around the station as well as on the water.
Suzanne and Joan Tanner headed up a very motivated team of RNLI fundraisers and volunteers who engaged themselves in raising money from a wide variety of stalls, raffles and competitions. Children in particular had great fun having their photos taken on the RNLI lifeguard jet ski and high fiving RNLI mascot ‘Stormy Stan’. The local St Ives’ Rotary also played their part by manning the ever popular BBQ.
The highlight of the day was the launch of the all-weather lifeboat, the Nora Stachura, and the inshore lifeboats. With thousands of people around the harbour perimeter, coxswain Robert Cocking and his volunteer crew entertained and excited the crowd by demonstrating the skill of his crew and the amazing manoeuvrability of the Nora Stachura as well as that of the inshore lifeboats – ‘showboating’ at its best! This was followed by a joint training rescue exercise in the bay with the Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, concluding with a final treat of low level flyovers across the harbour.
Following the exercise, it was back to business as usual when the volunteer lifeboat crew were asked to assist a French yacht that had become stranded on a sandbank in the harbour. The yacht was towed off the sandbank andd taken safely to a mooring in the harbour.
On the evening of Friday 18 August, the station held its first ever ‘Bands in the Boathouse’ event. Hundreds of visitors and local people enjoyed and danced to live music from local bands ‘Sandy Acre 7’ and ‘Blooze’. The whole evening was a huge success with an overwhelming demand to make it an annual event.
The St Ives RNLI would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors and donors who made the two days such a success and above all the generosity extended by the public.
The event's main sponsors were: St Austell Brewery, St Ives Tesco, Carbis Bay Hotel, Tregenna Castle Hotel, St Ives Harbour Hotel, The Castle Inn St.Ives, Hayle Bookers, the Penzance Cycle Centre, WJ Winn, Jo Downs Handmade Glass, Cornish Bakehouse, St.Ives Holidays and Aspects Holidays.
Notes to editors
The enclosed photos show:
- Lifeboat parading on Porthminster Beach - Lifeboat Day. Credit Chris Oates.
- Lifeboat in exercise with Coastguard Helicopter - Lifeboat Day. Credit Chris Oates.
- Crew Peter Tanner and Tassy Swallow deliver the bike to winner tombola - Lifeboat Day. Credit RNLI/St Ives.
- Jo Downs tombola winner - Lifeboat Day. Credit RNLI/St Ives.
- Stalls at the Lifeboat Day. Credit Chris Oates.
- Sandy Acre 7 performing to a huge crowd at the Bands in the Boathouse event. Credit RNLI/Alban Roinard.
More photos from 'Band in the Boathouse' are available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b3yi3lk92ps76bj/AAAQKJkrOmz350o0WnO9z_7Ga?dl=0
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Phil Moyle, Lifeboat Press Officer/Editor, on 07886475974. You can also contact Alban Roinard, Lifeboat Press Officer/Photographer on 07819591880. You can also email [email protected].
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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