M&S Foodhall launches support for Whitstable Lifeboat

Staff at the store chose the Whitstable lifeboat station as they were keen to support a local cause in the community, and are keen to show their appreciation of the volunteers that risk their lives at sea for their community, through a series of fundraising activities over the next 12 months.

Diane Randall, Whitstable lifeboat acting chairman of the fund-raising branch said “I understand that the foodhall staff are planning a number of fundraising activities in our support and they can be assured that their efforts will contribute to the running costs of the station which is one of the busiest in Kent answering on average 50 to 70 calls a year to a variety of marine related incidents. We have already had our souvenir stall in the entrance, members of the crew collecting outside the store and we invited the RNLI's 'Stormy Stan' to join us during the launch who was very popular with children and no doubt brought a smile to the faces of adults as well”.

“Our fundraisers work tirelessly for the station and lifeboat and we are delighted that we have been joined by the M & S Foodhall staff for the next year, their efforts on our behalf will be much appreciated”

“Jamie Smith, Store Manager at M&S Foodhall Whitstable, said: “The RNLI’s lifeboat station is a major provider for our community and we have been touched by the charity’s efforts to look after the residents of Whitstable when they venture out to sea. Our team is raring to go with some really fun fundraising activities and hope to work closely with our customers over the next year to do as much as we can to support our RNLI volunteers.”

Notes to editors:

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Mrs Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts:

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East)
  0207 6207426 / 07785 296252 / [email protected]

• Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07786) [email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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.