Two surprise donations in one day to Rhyl RNLI volunteers

The first donation was from P.C. Jim Jones, of North Wales Police, who presented a cheque to Coxswain Martin Jones, to help towards the funding of the new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, scheduled to come to Rhyl in the Autumn of 2019. The money (£250.00) was part of the Community Service award, presented to P.C. Jones from the North wales Police Federation, for his continuing service over many years as Community Police Officer for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (Glan Clwyd Hospital) near Rhyl. The RNLI was one of four beneficiaries of the award nominated by him. Sergeant Mark Jones from the North Wales Police federation, had nominated P.C. Jones for his outstanding commitment to Community policing. The picture ( credit RNLI/Rhyl) shows (L-R) RNLI Rhyl chairman David Simmons; P.C. Jim Jones: Coxswain Martin Jones; Sergeant Mark Jones: New crew member Charlie Williams and Crew member Callum Robinson.

The second surprise came when the station was asked by Tom Deakin, of the Co-Operative organisation, to attend the re-opening of their shop on the Park View estate in Rhyl. The staff and customers had been collecting over the past year with raffles and collecting tins, and at the re-opening of their newly-refurbished store, presented Derek Denton, Rhyl RNLI visits officer and crew member, with another cheque for £250.00 as part of their fundraising efforts which realised £1000.00, which was distributed with three other worthy causes at the re-opening ceremony. The picture shows RNLI volunteer Derek Denton holding the total cheque with Mr. Deakin, flanked by store staff, Councillors and local school children, together with members of Rhyl's RNLI volunteer crew.

Martin Jones, Rhyl lifeboat coxswain says 'We are delighted and grateful to both P.C. Jones and the Co-Op store for their generosity. The crew at Rhyl are very excited that they will be receiving a new state-of-the-art all-weather lifeboat in 2019, and these donations will help boost the funds for the new equipment'

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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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