Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Thank Community for Support at Boxing Day Events

While many people may have been sleeping off Christmas dinner, hundreds of intrepid swimmers had made their way to West Kirby Marine Lake to take part in a Boxing Day Dip organised by the Underground Training Station (UTS). The Hoylake-based gym has organised the chilly morning challenge for several years and it has become increasingly popular.

West Kirby RNLI launched their D class lifeboat Seahorse to oversee and support the daring dippers taking to the water. The event raised an impressive £704.56 on the day, with many more donations from participants made to the RNLI online.

Later that morning, volunteers from Hoylake RNLI lifeboat crew took on a team from Hoylake Sailing Club in the annual Slater Trophy Tug O’War, which made a welcome return after its cancellation in 2020.

The Hoylake RNLI team were victorious against the sailing club, winning in two straight pulls, and were presented with the competition’s coveted Slater Trophy – a small teapot that bears the name of the winning side stretching back for nearly 50 years.

Hundreds of spectators attended the event to cheer on both teams and donate to the RNLI, with funds raised on the day totalling an incredible £1,580.24. Further donations were made online by supporters watching from around the UK and overseas on the event’s live stream.

West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Richard Diamond said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who supported the Boxing Day Dip and who gave a donation either in person or online. Your ongoing support of the work of the RNLI and all those who volunteer is hugely appreciated. 2021 has presented us with fundraising challenges but we are overwhelmed by people’s ongoing generosity.’

Speaking after the Tug o’War, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Howie Owen said: ‘It was fantastic for our volunteer crew to be able to take part in this event again and both teams gave it their all. Thank you to the sailing club for a great competition and to everyone who turned out to support us. We’re blown away by the generosity of our community in funding our lifesaving work. We hope to see you at next year’s Tug o’War, which will be the event’s 50th anniversary.’

This winter the RNLI is asking for support from the public to help its crews in their mission to save every one. Donations can be made to Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI through the lifeboat stations’ JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/HoylakeWestKirbyRNLI2021. More information on the RNLI’s Christmas appeal can be found at RNLI.org/Christmas.

Notes to editors

• The Slater Trophy Boxing Day Tug o’War was established in 1972 by Arthur Slater of Hoylake Sailing Club and Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Danny Triggs.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

• Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]
• Vicky Gaskin, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected]
• Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 07771941390 or email [email protected]
• RNLI Public Relations 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.

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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.