The annual Bude Lifeboat Weekend is held across the full three days of the August bank holiday (24th – 26th) and is one of the best weekends of the year in Bude.
The whole town has a relaxed, festival feel and there is plenty going on for all the family.
Organised by the RNLI crew, fundraising team and volunteers the weekend is crammed full of activities and attractions, including live music from local bands, brass bands and choirs, food stalls and BBQ, funfair rides, a children’s disco, a quiz night and a competitively priced bar. Activities occur mainly around the canal at the Wharf area and the Castle Grounds.
During the course of the weekend there will be a special raffle for the painting 'Storm Force' The picture painted by local artist Alan Merchant-White, and very kindly donated to Bude RNLI, shows a boat in distress from the point of view of the RNLI crew on the way to it's aid. It will be displayed in the marquee on both Saturday 24th August and on Lifeboat Day (Monday 26th). Tickets for the raffle will be available on the Saturday and Monday from the jigsaw puzzles stall in the marquee.
The climax to the Lifeboat Weekend is Lifeboat Day (Monday 26th August). The highlight of the weekend being the RNLI demonstrations when volunteer lifeboat crew take part in displays with both the D class inshore lifeboat 'George Bird' and the Rescue Water Craft.
The Lifeboat Weekend ends in style with the Grand Firework Finale at 9.30pm on Monday when both locals and tourists enjoy the best firework display of the year.
Come along and show your support for Bude RNLI whilst having an amazing weekend. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. It is separate from the Coastguard and independent of the Government and relies on volunteers and supporters to run the lifesaving service.
A full programme of events will be available from early August in many shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs throughout Bude and of course the RNLI shop at Summerleaze car park.
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Notes to Editors
Attached are photographs from previous Lifeboat Weekends along with a poster that advertises the event and a poster for the raffle of the painting
Storm Force by Alan Merchant-White.
RNLI
Bude Lifeboat Day demonstration by the volunteer lifeboat crew
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.
