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Six new Rhyl RNLI recruits prepare for very first Christmas on call

Lifeboats News Release

The new crew members will join fellow RNLI volunteers at Rhyl in being ready to swap turkey and tinsel for turbulent seas this Christmas.

Callum Robinson

Rhyl's newest crew prepare for their very first Christmas on call

Over the festive period, many will leave their loved ones behind to answer the call, each time hoping to reunite another family, and see those in trouble at sea safely returned. Over the past decade, RNLI lifeboats have launched over 1,200 times during the festive period.

The charity is now launching its Christmas appeal and Rhyl RNLI is appealing for support to enable all their crew to continue saving lives.

Over the past five festive periods, RNLI lifeboats in Wales and the North West have launched nearly 100 times, with 49 people aided over the Christmas period.

Alongside, RNLI volunteers at Rhyl who are no strangers to Christmas on call, this year six new recruits will have pagers by their side during their first festive season as crew members.

Adam Jones-Booth, Craig Kelly, Harry Clews, Jack Blanchard (not pictured), James Strauch and Rosa Tomassi-Bella all joined the crew at Rhyl RNLI this year. Each with very different reasons for joining they’ve all become important members of the volunteer crew at Rhyl and are looking forward to their first festive period as crew.

James Strauch will be celebrating with his partner Claire who works for the NHS with his pager on the dining table as both of them will be on call.

For Rosa Tomassi-Bella, this Christmas will be her first as crew with her husband Kelvin. Rosa moved to Rhyl three years ago to be with Kelvin and he proposed to her at Rhyl RNLI’s annual Festive Dip on Boxing Day after they’d both braved the cold water. This Christmas Rosa will be volunteer crew for the festive dip so will be fully suited in her RNLI dry suit.

All of the crew at Rhyl RNLI, new and old, like RNLI stations up and down the UK, will be on call 24 hours a day over the festive period ready to launch to help anyone in need.

But these rescues would not be possible without donations from the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews all year round.

Martin Jones, Coxswain at Rhyl RNLI, said:

‘Even at Christmas, our lifesavers are ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice and rush to the aid of someone in trouble on the water. At this time of year, the weather’s at its worst and lives are on the line.

‘We know that every time our crews go out they hope for a good outcome, but sadly this sometimes isn’t the case. There’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families – especially at Christmas. As lifeboat crew we couldn’t rescue people without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our families.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

Notes to Editors

Additional images can be downloaded here: https://source.rnli.org.uk/share/7D53A210-C36A-4182-A623FCA1CED10079/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Judith Sharp, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Rhyl RNLI. [email protected] 07967 240735

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, Twitter 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.

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