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Dancers step in line to raise £2,000 for Calshot RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

When Wayne Dawkins, who works a stone's throw from Calshot Lifeboat Station, decided to raise money for the RNLI he chose to let his feet do the talking.

The Calshot Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Max Walls'.

RNLI

The Calshot Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Max Walls'.
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An active line dancer for the past 27 years, Wayne, who works at the Calshot Activity Centre, ran a line dancing charity event that raised a fantastic £2,000 for the lifeboat station.

The event was held at Bishopstoke memorial hall and was part of a long running monthly social that Wayne organises within the line dance industry.

Wayne had three reasons for choosing Calshot RNLI as his chosen charity. The main reason was because his late grandfather was in both the navy and merchant navy during the D Day landings, his role was a landing boat pilot and was called on many occasions to save lives.

Wayne has also been visiting Blackpool for 16 years and over that time has witnessed many situations where the lifeboat has been out, some with success and others not, so in that time he has become friendly with some of the locals and heard their tails.

Finally, working at Calshot Activity Centre means Wayne works with some of Calshot RNLI's volunteer crew. He has learnt how the volunteers spend a lot of their spare time volunteering for the RNLI, putting others before themselves and hearing the stories of how the volunteer’s save lives at sea.

Wayne began his own club the 'Western Wranglers' 17 years ago. He started working with live acts about 7 years ago and also works for Isle Of Wight tours as a weekend host, instructor and DJ.

The charity event was held with a singer called Rob Childs. The sell-out event saw around 80 guests on the night joining in with the line dancing. There was also a raffle, whiskey role, name the bear and guess the sweets.

Calshot Lifeboat Operations Manager Di Carrier said Wayne's fundraising efforts were greatly appreciated: 'The RNLI relies entirely on public donations to enable our volunteers to run a professional 24-hour search and rescue service at 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland. Without people like Wayne we would not be able to continue saving lives at sea'.

If you feel you could run a fundraising event to raise essential funds for the station please do get in touch.

Ends

Media Contacts

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

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 238 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 240 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.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

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 238 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 240 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.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland

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.

About the author

Laura Bean
Lifeboat Press Officer, Calshot Lifeboat Station

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