TV star Debra Stephenson to launch RNLI Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

The launch is also an opportunity to view the Apple County Kit Car Club display of vehicles, with evening entertainment in the form of the Great Bath Tub Race commencing at 8pm. Further events during the week will include the Lyme Regis Great Bake Off and Grand Treasure Hunt plus various live music performances across the week.

As an impressionist Debra, from Poole, is perhaps best known for her co-starring role in BBC One’s The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson. As an actress she played Shell Dockley in Bad Girls, the feisty Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street and Diane Powell in Playing the Field. She also plays major parts in BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and ITV’s Newzoids.

Debra, who owns a speedboat with her husband James, said they were looking forward to coming to Lyme Regis and plan to make it a family day out with children Max,14 and Zoe, 10.

She added: ‘My husband enjoys our small boat for fishing and so far we have not had to call out the RNLI. But it’s very comforting to know the volunteer crews are there if we need them.’

Richard Horobin, the station’s Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, will also be launching his fully illustrated book which has captured the stories of the lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis throughout the station's history.

RNLI notes to editors

The enclosed photos show:

• Banner at the station with details of the Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week. (Credit RNLI/Jade Dyer)
• The Lyme Regis RNLI Lifeboat Week 2017 poster. (Credit RNLI/Lyme Regis)
• Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station Histories book cover. (Credit RNLI/Lyme Regis)

Lyme Regis RNLI Lifeboat Week 2017 will run from 22 July-29 July 2017. More information about the week can be found at https://www.facebook.com/LymeRegisLifeboatWeek/.

The Lyme Regis RNLI Station History book will be available to purchase from 22 July at the Lifeboat Shop and at other outlets in the town. It is priced at £8.95 with all proceeds going to the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Jade Dyer, RNLI Communications Student Placement, on 01752 854485 or by emailing [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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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.