Hampton School's Support for Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat
School visits to the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat have been an increasingly important feature of the station activities, both in getting over the sea safety message to children and young people and in explaining how the charity and its volunteers work.
One school in particular, Hampton Primary School in Herne Bay, has built up a very strong relationship with the station and, over the last few years, its pupils have been regular visitors and enthusiastic fundraisers.
In recognition of their support, the school was recently presented with a framed print and certificate of thanks from the station, and last Thursday pupils returned to the station to make a further donation of monies.
Joanna Quinn, Year 5 Manager, said, “Over the last five years, the Year 5 children have been learning about the RNLI and have been to visit the lifeboat station at Whitstable to bring their topic learning to life.”
“We feel it is so important for the children to learn about the RNLI, as we are a coastal school. Not only do they teach the children about what the amazing charity does for us, but also what the children need to do if they find themselves in an emergency situation out at sea or on the beach.”
“To show our gratitude for the amazing work of the RNLI and all the volunteers, over the last couple of years we have held a giant cake sale to raise money. The children make their own cakes at home and bring them in to sell. The amount of enthusiasm that the children have is unbelievable and they have so much pride in what they sell, they make us all very proud. Last year they raised an amazing £783.45 and last Thursday the Year 5 council members visited the lifeboat again to present the volunteers with a fundraising cheque from this year’s cake sale, which raised another £685.50.”
Whitstable Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Judge, said, “The efforts made by the Year 5 pupils at the school on our behalf have been a fantastic achievement and they can be proud in the knowledge that they have made a valuable contribution, not only to the costs of equipment for the lifeboat and its crews, but also they have gained a valuable insight into the work of the station and RNLI. In addition, they will be able to pass on the RNLI sea safety message of ‘Respect the Water’ to their families and friends. They have done themselves and us an invaluable service and we are most grateful to them”.
Schools and other organisations interested in visiting Whitstable Lifeboat Station can contact Lifeboat Visits Officer David Hayward on 07835 929110
Notes to editors
Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.
The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.
She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.
RNLI media contacts
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Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
07741 012004/ [email protected]
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Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207426 Mob: (07786) 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 www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre.
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.