Long-term supporter Mick French presented a £600 donation to Newquay lifeboat station on Sunday (27 February) after 'braving the shave' in December and having his two years' lockdown growth of hair and beard shaved off, courtesy of Dave's Barbers in Camborne.
After watching Newquay's RNLI volunteers returning from a routine exercise and presenting the donation with his wife Margaret on Sunday morning, Mick said: 'I braved the shave for Newquay lifeboat station because I was aware that the RNLI, like other charities, have been unable to hold fundraising events during the last two years to keep the much-needed rescue service operating.
Margaret and myself have been supporting Newquay RNLI for about 18-years, mainly at their Lifeboat Days each summer, by bringing along my scale model lifeboats and collection buckets and we always enjoy the camaraderie of the day amongst crew and visitors alike.
In total, this is our 37th and final year of fundraising for the RNLI in earnest and we'd like to thank everyone who made us feel so welcome at the station on Sunday and over the years, but I can say that I will never brave the shave again, at least not in December!'.
Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Gareth Horner, who accepted the donation with RNLI shop volunteer Carol Hudson, said: 'Mick's model lifeboat displays have been a much-valued feature of our Lifeboat Days for nearly 20 years. Our RNLI volunteers rely on the generosity of supporters like Mick & Margaret to save lives at sea and we are extremely grateful for their continued friendship and support'
Notes to editors
Attached picture shows Mick (centre) and his wife Margaret (right) presenting donation to Newquay RNLI volunteers.
Newquay lifeboat station first opened in 1860. Today’s RNLI volunteers operate two inshore lifeboats and are on call 24-hours-a-day to save lives at sea.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Andy Hobkinson, Newquay RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or 07880 507464 or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager at [email protected] or 07920 818807 or contact the RNLI Press Office (24hrs) on 01202 336789.
RNLI/Ann-Marie Dale
Mick presenting donation to Newquay RNLI shop volunteer Carol Hudson.
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.
