Music to Rye Harbour RNLI’s ears

Matt and John Parsons conceived the idea of a music festival to mark the 10^th anniversary of the passing of Matt’s best friend, Andy, from Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. The first year they raised money for the Teenage Cancer trust. The festival was such an amazing success that people requested that it should be repeated in the following years so that donations could be made to charities in the area. In the first four years they raised over £12,000 for their selected charity. Last year it was the turn of the RNLI and once again this year again it was chosen. Many local businesses give their support and Frank and Lisa provide the venue.

John said, ’We hope that by supporting the community, the community will support our event. We cannot thank people enough for contributing so much and Tony and Sharon from RNLI Rye Harbour have been amazing.’

All the performers give up their time for free to support by playing really great music to entertain the crowds: without them there would be no festival. John and Matt and their families are truly inspirational and RNLI Rye Harbour is so grateful for their donations. It helps the station to Save Lives at Sea and to buy new vital kit.

Joseph Brown, a member of the volunteer crew said, ‘It was such a good day for families and adults alike with great music and good food: all for a good cause close to so many people’s hearts. The atmosphere was terrific.’

RNLI Media contacts

· Kt Bruce, Rye Harbour RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (07789) 818878 [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.

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.