Burnham-on-Sea RNLI remembers war dead

Hence, Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers elected to honour the act of remembrance in a private ceremony at their Lifeboat station.

At 10.30 am, Lifeboat Operations manager Matt Davies and Boathouse manager Dave Parsons, jointly laid a wreath on the Burnham-on-Sea Cenotaph, before returning to the lifeboat station for the act of remembrance.

The volunteer crews had been out training, returning especially early, and 11.00 am saw them gathered, in a socially distant group around the RNLI flag pole. The beginning of the two minute silence was marked by Julie Baker (Wife of launch Authority Lyndon), playing ‘The last Post’ on a clarinet. During the silence the RNLI flag was lowered to half-mast, and the end of the silence marked by Julie playing ‘Reveille’.

Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Chairman Ashley Edwards said; ‘We felt it especially important to remember the sacrifices made by our armed forces, and the splendid peacetime efforts from our wonderful NHS workers. Additionally we should not forget the wartime support from RNLI volunteers, who saved many lives in extremely challenging wartime conditions.’

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Images with this release

Images with this release

File name: Wreath_laying (RNLI/Mike Lang)

Burnham-on-Sea RNLI LOM Matt Davies and Boathouse Manager Dave Parsons laying the station's wreath at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday

File name: Crew_one (RNLI/Mike Lang)

Crewmembers assembled in the station yard

File name: Crew_two (RNLI/Mike Lang)

Crewmembers assembled in the station yard

File name: Last_post (RNLI/Mike Lang)

Julie Baker plays the ‘last post’ to mark the beginning of the two minute's silence

Lifeboats in service at Burnham-on-Sea:

A 7.5m Atlantic 75 named Doris Day and Brian plus a smaller 4.95m D class IB1 inflatable named Burnham Reach The station was opened officially on 15^th May 2004, but has been operational since December 2003.

Note: Last year the RNLI was facing a ‘perfect storm’, with a reduced income and an increase in demand for it’s services. This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, fundraising has been severely reduced by a national lockdown, yet the lifeboats have still been launched 24/7 in their strategy to save lives at sea.

Click this link to donate; https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/give-to-a-special-appeal/summer-appeal

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]. or Marianne Quinn Regional Media Officer (South West) [email protected] Mobile: 07786 668847

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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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