Local Golf Clubs support Lytham St Annes RNLI

Two of our local Golf Clubs, Fairhaven and St Annes Old Links, are helping to raise funds for the sea charity’s Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station in their respective Lady Captain’s year of Office. With the generous support of their Club members, Fairhaven has already raised a large sum and old Links is taking up the challenge to raise funds with their new Lady Captain taking over in April..

At Fairhaven Golf Club, Ladies Captain Pat Francis chose the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat as her charity over her two years of tenure in the office. Pat retires as Ladies Captain in April 2022 and her last charity event was a coffee morning held at the Club House with an impressive selection of raffle prizes donated by Club members. Members of the Lifeboat Crew attended to support the event. Pat was for many years St Annes Ladies Lifeboat Guild Treasurer and now, since the Guild has joined forces with Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Fundraising Branch, she continues her voluntary work as a donations box collector.

The Lifeboat connections with Fairhaven Golf Club continue as Kevan Waby is the current Seniors Captain and Andy Cunningham is Vice Captain elect. Both are RNLI crew members, being SLARS (Shannon Launch & Recovery vehicle) drivers and head launchers and, of course, great supporters of the local Lifeboat Station.

Taking over as Ladies Captain at St Annes Old Links Golf Club is Hazel Preston, a golfer from a young age when she used to regularly go to the course with her father and mother. Her year in Office starts in April 2022 and her charity is the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat with events being planned throughout the year ahead. Hazel is also Chairman of the Lytham St Annes Ladies’ Lifeboat Luncheon Club which meets at the Clifton Arms, Lytham to raise funds for the local Station. At each convivial monthly meeting, an informative speaker is arranged as well as an excellent luncheon. New members are always welcome.

The Chairman of Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Fundraising Branch, Digby Moulden, praised the contribution the area’s Golf Clubs members make towards saving lives at sea. He added: 'The history of support by the areas golfers goes back to the very start of clubs being established in Lytham and St Annes. Thank you to all members who over the years have contributed to this vital service.'

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.