Year 2 students from Northamptonshire surprise Plymouth RNLI crew

The station would like to thank the Year 2 students from The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Northamptonshire who are studying the coastline and being Seaside Explorers for the lovely letters and collages they have sent.

The teachers Claire O’Key, Laura Berrill and Liz McDonald wrote:

'We have been looking at all aspects of the coastline and, recently, covered beach and sea safety. Quite an interesting topic when you consider that Northampton is about as far away from the coast as you can get!

'Whilst discussing this, we talked about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the amazing work you do. Our children were fascinated to learn that most of you are volunteers and couldn't believe that you would risk your lives to save others!

'We have done some role-play work, written a diary entry from your viewpoint, designed a poster about beach safety and then we spent an entire day concentrating on the RNLI. Enclosed you will find abstract collages that the children made, pictures that they drew and letters that they wrote to you. As you will see, your work has really captured their imaginations.'

One of the children wrote: 'I have written this letter to say thank you for doing amazing things for others. In year 2 we have been learning about the RNLI. I think it is amazing you take your time to save others. I think you are brilliant. I can’t believe you always stick together with your crew members. Thank you for helping others and saving lives. If you were not here I think there would be a lot less people. I wanted to know how you feel when your beeper goes off? Do you get days off? What do you feel like when you rescue people? Why did you become a volunteer?'

Plymouth RNLI Station Mechanic Will Roberts said:

'When the beeper goes off you feel a rush if adrenaline and excitement, you never know what you might be heading off too. We do get days off, we have enough crew so that if some are not available others can cover taking the boat to sea, we all have to work as a team to cover every hour of the day all year. If feels good to help people and bring them to safety if they are in trouble, it’s good to put all the training we do into action. I became a volunteer because my dad was a volunteer on the lifeboat so I spent time around it from a very young age, it was natural for me to sign up when I got to the right age.'

Another student wrote:

'Dear RNLI. I wanted to write to you to say that I watched your video’s and what you are doing is brilliant. I wish that I was in the RNLI when I grow up. Thank you for saving all the animals when they are in trouble in the sea and helping people.

'In year 2 we have been talking about you guys and you didn’t give up. I think you guys are amazing because you keep working every day when someone is in trouble. How do you feel when someone is in trouble? How do you get on the boat?'

Coxswain/Mechanic Simon Jeffery said: 'Thank you very much for you lovely abstract collages that you have made. The pictures are amazing and reading the words the children wrote really make us feel special, so a huge thank you from myself and the rest of our volunteer crew here at Plymouth RNLI.'

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

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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.