Porthcawl RNLI to hold year long festival celebrating its 55th Anniversary

Plans include two special weekends of events to take place at the start and end of summer.

David Shillaw, Chairman of Porthcawl RNLI Fundraising and Events Group, said: ‘We felt it was important to recognise the 55^th Anniversary in which an RNLI inshore lifeboat has been stationed at Porthcawl. Last year our fundraising team had their most successful year ever raising £73,000 and we hope to continue with the same momentum. With launch figures yet to be released by the RNLI for 2019, it is likely Porthcawl will once again be one of the busiest, if not the busiest RNLI lifeboat station in Wales. In 2019 the volunteer crew at Porthcawl had an incredibly busy year once again.

‘We have an excellent record of holding well supported events in Porthcawl to raise funds for the charity and we are very much looking forward to the support of the public throughout our 55^th Anniversary year.

‘Our first weekend event will be on Saturday 13 June when a supper evening with entertainment hosted by Mark Llewelyn Evans and friends is being held at and sponsored by the Hi Tide Inn. This will be followed by a festival style event on the Promenade on Sunday 14 June to replace our annual RescueFest which sadly we have had to cancel for this year.

‘Another exciting weekend will be held in September with our 55^th Anniversary Dinner at the Grand Pavilion on Saturday 19 September followed by a ‘Magical Music’ concert at the Grand Pavilion on Sunday 20 September.’

Chris Page, volunteer helm at Porthcawl RNLI and lead organiser of RescueFest said, ‘We are really disappointed to have to cancel our RescueFest event this year. The local authority has important major sea defence works planned around the breakwater and Eastern Promenade this summer. These works clashed with the proposed date for RescueFest2020 which has meant it is not possible to hold the event as in previous years. We understand regular supporters of this event, around 4000 last year will be dismayed so we plan to hold some small scale lifeboat demonstrations during the year which will be advertised via our social media pages. RescueFest generated significant funds for our charity and I hope the events being held during our 55^th anniversary year will be similarly well supported.’

Notes to editors

· An RNLI inshore lifeboat has been stationed at Porthcawl since 1965

· More information about Porthcawl RNLI can be found at: porthcawl-lifeboat.co.uk

· Downloadable video showing Porthcawl RNLI in action is available from the RNLI website: rnli.org/news-and-media

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For more information please contact, Porthcawl RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]

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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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