Stop Press! Meet the news team keeping Calshot RNLI on the front page
Calshot RNLI has just appointed a new press team to keep the station’s activities in the headlines. Danni Strawford-Jones, who is also trainee boat crew and Justyn Leonard, whose wife is on the crew, have been appointed to the important roles of volunteer press officers for the station.
The roles involve writing press releases on lifeboat launches, updating the station's social media pages and promoting stories about Calshot RNLI, from background insights on the crew to fundraising events and station anniversaries.
Danni, who hails from a senior safety role within UK Offshore Powerboat Racing as well as having experience in media and PR, has been appointed as volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer:
‘I’m delighted to take on this role; Calshot is a uniquely positioned station with a broad diversity of waterborne traffic on its doorstep,' she said.
Our lifeboats can be called out to anything from leisure marine users such as paddleboarders, kayakers and kite surfers, to larger power/sail pleasure craft and even commercial export ships servicing the UK’s largest port.
That's not to mention our local beaches which are popular with visitors and dog walkers alike. With all of that in mind, our priority as the new Press Team is not only to promote the brilliant work of station and recruitment of crew for generations to come, but also to educate both locals and visitors to the area in the hope we can prevent incidents from occurring’.
Justyn, who is an executive in the IT industry and has been appointed as volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer added:
‘My wife joined the crew here not long after we moved to the area and it’s such a welcoming, family environment, I ended up generally helping out wherever I could.
When this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance to help promote the work that the RNLI does. I’m really excited to be a part of the dedicated team of volunteers here that all contribute to saving lives at sea. It’s the station's 50th Anniversary this year, so we’re already busy with preparations for the events we’ve got planned to celebrate this historic milestone.’
The RNLI relies on volunteer Lifeboat Press Officers, working as an integral part of the local station crew, to promote the work of the RNLI into the local community.
RNLI Media Contacts:
Calshot Lifeboat Station volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Danni Strawford-Jones (07721) 694135 [email protected]
Calshot Lifeboat Station volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer Justyn Leonard (07540) 920678 [email protected]
Regional Media Officer, South East and London, Paul Dunt (07785) 296252 [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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.
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.