Amazing success for Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Ball
Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers held their annual lifeboat ball on Saturday 18 October. Net result: over £5,000 raised for RNLI funds.
At the Batch Country Hotel venue, in Lympsham, ticket holders were met on arrival at the door by meeting and greeting Helms Nick Edrish and Marc Smith.
Once the two hundred and twenty four guests were seated at tables, Burnham RNLI Chair Ashley Edwards welcomed everybody, and introduced a massive game of heads or tails, after which the dinner was served by the hotel catering staff.
Following on from the meal, a video presentation was delivered about the RNLI key values, including a videotaped delivery from Co-organisers Tim Walters and Marc Smith, thanking Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Matt Davies for his devotion and management qualities, during the last twelve months. This concluded with a bouquet presented to Matt’s wife Emma for her long suffering support
A short reply from Matt, during which he described the various RNLI roles at Burnham-on-Sea and the necessary support from partners, preceded the musical entertainment from popular local party band Six Machine, which kept the dance floor occupied to overflowing for the rest of the evening. . Of course, in parallel with these activities there was also the usual obligatory raffle and silent auction to help boost funds.
During a short comfort break for the band, Matt took the mic again, pointing out that there were two teams of designated RNLI boat and shore crew volunteers ready to launch both lifeboats, should a boat have been required during that particular evening. Also during the interval, Matt presented Lead organiser Tim Walters with a thankyou gift.
Matt Davies said of the evening; ‘This is an amazing result for our lifeboat station. Grateful thanks go to all our sponsors, volunteer crew and crews’ families, plus others too numerous to mention!’
Launch Authority Phill Counsell added; ‘We were looked after really well by the Batch
hotel staff, and the venue was ideal for our needs.’
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Images with this release:-
File name: Meeter_greeters (RNLI/Mike Lang)
Nick and Marc greeting the balls guests at the door
File name: Selfi-booth (RNLI/Mike Lang)
The Batch selfi-booth was in great demand
File name: Six_machine (RNLI/Mike Lang)
Popular party band Six Machine on stage
File name: Tim and Matt (RNLI/Mike Lang)
Tim receives a thankyou gift from Operations Manager Matt Davies
RNLI media contacts
For more information about this release please telephone Mike Lang, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07889 815860 or email [email protected],
In the absence of the above, contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789
Alternatively, telephone Amy Caldwell RNLI Public Relations Manager (South)
Tel 07920 818 807, [email protected] .
. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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.