Local pubs help Conwy RNLI launch Respect the Water campaign
The RNLI ‘Respect the Water’ campaign has been officially launched this week in the historic town of Conwy. The RNLI volunteers at the lifeboat station have distributed Respect the Water promotional items which will be displayed and used at local pubs to raise awareness of this campaign.
Conwy RNLI lifeboat station lays in the shadow of the well preserved 13th century medieval Conwy Castle and fortified walls, of which have led to the town being classed as an ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’. With this, the town is home all year round to a steady influx of visitors from all around the world. In the summer season, the town sees an even larger influx of visitors and a large quantity of which enjoy activities in and near the water.
The station has been lucky enough to have unreserved support from the local community and in particular from locals pubs within a stone’s throw from the station and from the water. The idea of the distribution of these promotional items is to hopefully encourage people to think about the specific dangers of being around water after drinking alcohol. Beer mats, bar runners and pint glasses are being provided to promote messages about unexpectedly ending up in the water and the risk of cold water shock.
Volunteers from the station handed over the first items to The Liverpool Arms, which is situated just along the Quay from the station.
Marie Jones, Manager of the ‘Liverpool Arms’, which lays on the water’s edge says, “We are very proud of our local RNLI lifeboat station and the volunteer crew and we are glad to be able to help spread the message”
A short walk from the Liverpool Arms lays the ‘Albion Ale House’, which were next receiving their items.
Tony Chapman-Edwards of the Albion Ale House said “The RNLI charity is very important in our local community and we are happy to be able to help spread the Respect the Water message to our locals and visiting customers”.
On the way back to the station is ‘The Bridge Inn’ where the next items were delivered and gratefully received by the staff.
Ian Lennon, Barman of The Bridge Inn says “We are also very proud to be able to support the RNLI and help spread the safety message to our customers”.
Conwy RNLI volunteers have first-hand experience of the potential risks the cold waters of the UK pose even to the public and even the most experienced people. Back in January 2015 a local yachtsman found himself unintentionally in the water and was rescued by the lifeboat. Speaking after the rescue David said “‘I was in for 12 minutes and I felt every single second. It felt like an incredibly long time. At one point I looked at my hands and they were white; there was no life left. Everything I had just wanted to drift away and go to sleep. I saw the lifeboat arrive out of the corner of my right eye and the next thing I knew a man from the RNLI was just beside me dragging me out.”.
More details, including video footage of his rescue can be found at http://magazine.rnli.org/Article/I-just-wanted-to-drift-away-and-go-to-sleep-50 and https://rnli.org/support-us/how-your-support-helps/survivor-stories/yacht-sailor-david-stocks.
British and Irish waters are dangerously unpredictable. The main risks that catch people out are unexpected entry, cold water shock, rip currents and waves.
Around 190 people accidentally die at the British and Irish coasts each year, with around half never intending to go into the water in the first place.
Respect the Water is a vital part of the RNLI's work to halve coastal drownings by 2024.
Details of the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign can be found at http://www.respectthewater.com/.
Photos attached (in order):
- The Liverpool Arms Bar Manager, Marie Jones, gratefully accepting her stock of Respect the Water items for her customers over the coming weeks.
- The Albion Ale House, also gladly accepting their pack for distribution and display on their premises.
- The Bridge Inn, Conwy, accepting their Respect the Water pack.
Notes to editors
- Conwy lifeboat station has been operating since 1966.
- To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/conwy
- [email protected]
RNLI media contacts
- Alan Flood, Conwy RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07871505513
- Danny-Lee Davies, Conwy RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07999321639
- Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer (Wales and West) on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162
- Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations 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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, 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.