Walsall’s 60 years of fundraising to save lives at sea
In 1959, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Walsall Ladies Guild was formed. This was changed in 1984, to the RNLI’s Walsall Branch to enable gentlemen to join.
More then 30 supporters attended the Branch’s 35th Anniversary Lunch on Sunday 27th January at the Beverley Hotel, Lichfield Road, Walsall. A raffle at the event raised £252.00 for the Burry Port Lifeboat Station Appeal.
On behalf of the branch, the honorary Treasurer, Phil Martin, thanked all the supporters for their help and support over the many years – with a special mention to those present that had also attended the Walsall Ladies Guild’s 25th Anniversary Dinner some 35 years ago.
Phil Martin also gave a huge thank-you to Carolyn McLaughlin who had recently retired from being the Walsall Branch’s volunteer Presenter. Over the last five years, Carolyn has done presentations at 47 events; to over 2,200 people; raising Donations and Souvenir Sales of over £7,000.00 – and these figures exclude all the presentations she had also done for the Sutton Coldfield Branch!
Phil Martin said:
‘Carolyn, for all your hard work for the Walsall and Sutton Coldfield Branches, it gives me great pleasure to present you with this Certificate of Thanks, which is signed by the RNLI’s Chief Executive, Mr. Paul Boissier’.
Carolyn commented:
‘The Certificate of Thanks was a lovely surprise and much appreciated. The RNLI is a charity funded purely by donations and legacies. Furthermore, the lifeboat crews are all volunteers. To put one’s life on the line to save others must surely be one of the most selfless acts known to man, reflecting total dedication, skill and bravery.’
For more information please contact Phil Martin on 01922 629835, or Danielle Rush, Divisional Media Relations Manager (Wales and West) on 07786 668829 or 01745 585162. Alternatively contact RNLI Public Relations 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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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.