Whitstable RNLI announces Easter Raffle

Kellie Gray, Chair of the Whitstable Branch of the RNLI, the stations fund-raising group said “Like all other charities volunteer crewmembers and fund raisers at Whitstable Lifeboat Station are continually aware of the need to generate income to continue with the operation of the town's lifeboat, more so now with the spectre of increasing energy costs putting increased inflationary pressure on almost every aspect of everyday life. We are also well aware that the spiraling cost of living will be increasing pressure on our regular and new supporters”

“This year because at the moment we are still uncertain if we can hold our annual Easter Fair which in the past has been a significant fund raising event for the station or if we can this year, what form it will take, we have decided to launch a more significant Easter raffle with prizes which have been generously donated by local businesses and our supporters”.

Kellie continued “Top prizes on offer will be a complete set of signed Whitstable Pearl novels and audiobook- poster and cards by local author Julie Wassmer a cookery lesson and dinner for two, with wine at JoJo’s restaurant in Tankerton., a framed photo of Whitstable from local photographer Andrew Hastings and a voucher for £120 at Samphire restaurant in Whitstable High Street, plus many more superb prizes from local businesses, shops and artists include Seed to Paper art, Acorn TV, Bear Trading and Samson & Coles”.

“The income generated from the raffle will be we hope just part of our fund raising programme throughout the year and help with the costs of not only keeping the lifeboat at sea but also maintaining other equipment for our volunteer crewmembers, contributing also to their training costs”

“The station's Atlantic 85 lifeboat launches on average around 50-60 times each year to a variety of incidents and covers the area from the Kingsferry Bridge in The Swale in the West, around the south-eastern coast of Sheppey, out into the Thames Estuary and eastwards to a point between Reculver and Minnis Bay”.

“In addition we also are active in promoting the sea safety message through the RNLI's Respect the Water campaign and we have an a very important educational role with our programme of school and group visits to the station which has been somewhat curtailed over the last two years due to the pandemic and the need to restrict access to the station to operational members of the station”.

“Tickets are on sale from the RNLI shop which will be open Saturday and Sundays between 10-4pm or from via RNLI Volunteers – for further information contact [email protected] and the draw will take place outside Whitstable Lifeboat Station at 4pm Easter Monday (18^th April). and our supporters can follow our social media sites for details of further prizes and a full list of prizes can be found at the Whitstable RNLI shop.

Notes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]

• Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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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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.