Donation made to Walmer RNLI in memory of courageous crew member
Staff from Jenner Ltd in Folkestone, family members and personnel from Walmer RNLI were present on Monday 2 October when a donation of £2,800 was made by the construction company in memory of their former employee and lifeboat crew member John Collins, who died earlier this year.
John joined the RNLI at Walmer in 1982 and became helm on both the inshore lifeboats. On one particularly hazardous rescue, assisting a yacht which had run aground on the Goodwin Sands in gale force winds, John fell overboard between the lifeboat and the yacht and had to be hauled back aboard by his colleagues.
Despite this he immediately set about continuing to assist in the rescue of the three yachtsmen. For this rescue John and the other two crew members received a signed letter of thanks from the RNLI.
Jenner Ltd wished to donate money for the station where John had been a crew member and helm for more than twenty years. Members of staff from the company and clients took part in a triathlon and golf day to raise the funds.
Martin Sandall, Managing Director, speaking at the lifeboat station, where the presentation was made, said: 'We're proud that we could raise this money in memory of our colleague John. We hope that this amount will go some way in helping the Walmer crews to continue the excellent work they do, day in, day out, saving lives at sea.'
Walmer Lifeboat Operations Manager Denis Brophy said: ‘I had great pleasure working with and going to sea with John. Even after his retirement in 2002 he continued to show great interest and would visit whenever he could. He was a true asset to the station.'
- Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station (07906) 623037 [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825, [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.
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