Sunny Funday for RNLI Walmer

After an early start and sustaining breakfast of bacon sandwiches, a sunny Saturday 22 June saw another successful RNLI Open Day alongside Walmer Churches’ Summer Fete. Sales of homemade cakes baked by our volunteers were a particular draw, as was the stone painting and colouring for younger visitors. Souvenirs in the station shop, an opportunity to practise knot tying, a display of model lifeboats and opportunities to see the station's Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and D Class Duggie Rodbard II lifeboats up close, with scaffolding kindly supplied by Cloke Scaffolding, also drew the crowds. Other displays included HM Coastguard, Community Safety who were offering a free lifejacket check and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue along with the ambulance and fire services.

The arena area saw a simulated lifeboat ‘shout’ with crew responding to their pager alarm, kitting up and boarding the inshore lifeboat Duggie Rodbard II. Once aboard the crew demonstrated the range of lifesaving equipment carried on board the boat, described with a commentary from two Walmer helms.

The afternoon culminated with a sea display involving a range of scenarios involving Dover's all-weather lifeboat, the Coastal Rescue team reacting to a man overboard situation, a paddleboard rescue, a distress flare fired from local fishing boat Gary Ann, and a tow with Dover’s small inshore Y Boat. A visit from the 911 Challenge Porsche, which will soon embark on a tour of the 77 lifeboat stations in Scotland, completed the day.

Speaking after the event organiser and Walmer helm Dave Mitchell said 'I am grateful to our crew and fundraisers who gave up their time to support the event. As a charity we rely on donations so as ever we are also grateful to the people of Deal and Walmer for their continued support of the RNLI and our station in particular.'

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station 01304 374475, 07906 623037 [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 620 7426, 07785 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 http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News 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.