A successful open day for the RNLI Weston-super-Mare volunteer crew raises £4100
The annual event, held this year on Sunday 7th July was organised by the RNLI volunteers who save lives at sea, to raise vital funds for the charity’s new Weston lifeboat station and vital life-saving equipment.
The sun was shining all day for the crowds that were treated to a variety of rescue displays by the stations two lifeboats, who were also joined by the Barry Dock Trent class all-weather lifeboat and the Atlantic 85 lifeboat from Burnham-on-Sea.
The RNLI volunteers were also joined by a range of other organisations including the Weston Coastguard Rescue Team, Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Southern Western Ambulance Service and the Police cadets who all brought equipment and set up display stands for the public to view. Local singing group, ‘The Barnacle Buoys’ also entertained the crowd with a range of sea shanty songs through the day.
The four lifeboats demonstrated their manoeuvrability; speed and rescue techniques close to shore with the public getting a fantastic view of man-overboard recoveries, towing techniques, anchoring and casualty extraction with the Coastguard Rescue Team.
The event was split across three locations with lifeboat displays and stalls at the RNLI shop at Anchor Head, a hovercraft and safety advice at the station on Knightstone Plaza and then a range of stalls, games and refreshments being provided at the planned location of the new lifeboat station at the former ‘Cove Restaurant’ site on Marine Lake. Recognition awards were also presented to two young supporters for their fund-raising efforts by the Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Buckland.
As the Weston lifeboats launched from their temporary station at Knightstone, an emergency call was received reporting a swimmer struggling against a strong current at Anchor Head. With the D class lifeboat, The Adrian Beaumont, already afloat, it arrived on scene quickly and helped the swimmer aboard the lifeboat and then brought him ashore to be checked over.
Lifeboat crewman, Chris Cox who organised the boat demonstrations and provided the live commentary said: ‘It was fantastic to see so many people watching the demonstrations and taking a keen interest in the work that we do saving lives. To be supported by our flank stations really made the day special and we are thankful to the crews at Barry Dock and Burnham-on-Sea for joining us with their lifeboats’.
Pete Elmont, Fundraising Chairman of the Weston RNLI said: ‘We are grateful for all the support and donations given at this year’s Open Day which go towards helping us to continue saving lives at sea'. The day was a huge success with a record amount being raised for our volunteers’.
Notes to editors
The photographs attached should be credited to the RNLI Weston-super-Mare and show the following:
· The four lifeboats conducting demonstrations together.
The Weston D-Class lifeboat, The Adrian Beaumont. The Weston Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Paul Alexander. The Barry Dock Trent lifeboat, Inner Wheel 2. The Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Doris Day & Brian
· The Barry Dock Trent class lifeboat at speed
· The Cove site – planned location of the new station
· Lewis Croucher - 4 Year old RNLI supporter and fundraiser being presented with a photograph of the Weston lifeboats by Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Buckland, to recognise his fund-raising efforts and support of the Weston crew
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact Weston-super-Mare RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer Glyn Hayes on 01934 645555 or 07774 181418 or RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer Cai Budd on 07379 636622 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Lifeboats in service at Weston-super-Mare
- Atlantic 75 lifeboat named Paul Alexander
- D-Class lifeboat named The Adrian Beaumont
To find out more information about Weston-super-Mare lifeboat and for recent events, please log onto our website or contact Glyn Hayes on 01934 645555.
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.