RNLI Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week beats the weather to raise £20,000
Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis came to a soggy end in the showers yesterday, but organisers are confident of a significant boost for RNLI funds.
Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, whose members plan the week, believe donations to the life-saving charity will be in the region of £20,000.
Only one event - the Friday night fireworks display - had to be called off because of the weather.
Irene Roper, who is retiring as chairman of the guild after five years, said:'It has been a successful week despite the weather. Visitors, residents and traders have all been very generous as usual and have enjoyed our many events.
'It has been a great team effort and there have also been some superb individual achievements, such as 13 year old Josh Denning, who raised £473 with his collection bucket and help from his family.'
The week came to an end with a performance by the shanty singers, Harbour Voices of Lyme Regis.
But there were two surprises still to come. Irene Roper was treated to a celebration by other volunteers to mark her retirement as chairman.
And Emma Hughes, from Whitchurch Canonicorum, called into the lifeboat station with a donation of £420 raised at her 40th birthday party.
She said:'I wanted to raise money for the RNLI as I am an active member of Bridport Gig Club and my dad is a keen fisherman with a boat at West Bay.
'So I told everyone not to bring me a present but to make a donation. It was quite a big party.'
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
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