Doc Martin star presents cheque at Port Isaac RNLI Annual Summer Service
Port Isaac RNLI station have celebrated the 150th anniversary of the foundation of their lifeboat service and received magnificent donations from the public and Doc Martin star Ian McNeice.
The volunteer crew were joined by members of the public on the Harbour Platt for their annual summer thanksgiving service and blessing of the lifeboat on Sunday 11 June. This year was a particularly special service as they celebrated 150 years of operation, with £1,000 raised during the service alone.
They were joined by Doc Martin star Ian McNeice (who plays Bert Large in the ITV medical comedy drama), who has spent a considerable amount of time in the village during filming for the show. He has been a generous supporter of the RNLI, having assisted at many of Port Isaac Station’s fundraising events and promoting the work of the charity and its volunteer crews. Chairman Bob Bulgin and Senior Crew Member Nicki Bradbury were thrilled to accept a cheque from Ian for £1,500, bringing the total raised on the day to a wonderful £2,500.
Chairman and Lifeboat Press Officer Bob Bulgin said: ‘We’d like to thank everyone who was able to attend the lifeboat service, with extra special thanks to Ian McNeice for another fantastic donation.’
RNLI notes to editors
The enclosed photo shows Doc Martin star Ian McNeice presenting a cheque to Port Isaac Chairman Bob Bulgin BEM and Senior Crew Member Nicki Bradbury with fellow station officials and crew members.
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact Port Isaac RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer Bob Bulgin at [email protected] or Deputy RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer Faye Archell on 01637 857957.
Port Isaac lifeboat station
Situated in a 700-year-old fishing village, Port Isaac has seen lifeboats launching off the north Cornish coast for over 100 years. Today the station operates an inshore D class lifeboat. Since the introduction of this lifeboat in 1967, 342 people have been rescued from 666 operational launches.
This station is classed as a Discover station. Our crews from Discover stations are equally welcoming to visitors but many of these stations were built before visitors were considered. These stations normally open their boathouse doors during the summer months.
To find out more about Port Isaac RNLI station and upcoming events, please visit https://www.facebook.com/rnliportisaac/.
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.