Margate RNLI opens its doors for a Mayday Open Day
Margate’s volunteer lifeboat crew and fundraisers have welcomed the public to the lifeboat station for its first Mayday appeal Open Day since the pandemic forced the annual event to be shelved for three years.
The event was held on Saturday (7 May) where the public were able to meet the lifeboat crew and fundraisers and see first-hand the two lifeboats stationed in the town including its brand new Atlantic 85 B class lifeboat Colonel Stock delivered just a few weeks ago. It also provided the opportunity for the fundraising team to explain current volunteering opportunities including for the souvenir shop at the station.
Other attractions on the day included: tombola and raffle, refreshments, lifejacket safety check, RNLI Face-To-Face fundraisers, a ‘welly-wanging’ competition organised by the crew and entertainment by shanty band ‘The Snottledogs’ – one of whom is a member of the lifeboat crew. Hilderstone Radio Society organised a Special Event Station spreading the word of the RNLI’s work worldwide and the day culminated in a rescue demonstration by Margate’s two lifeboats along with our colleagues from Ramsgate who attended with their all-weather and inshore lifeboats.
As well as raising awareness of our work for the seafaring community, it was about raising funds and £687.50 in donations was collected on the day with the souvenir shop taking around £900, all contributing to the cause of saving lives at sea. We would like to thank all those who made the day the success it was including of course the lifeboat crew from Ramsgate who gave up their time on the day.
Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, RNLI Margate said: “For a few years we have been locked away due to the pandemic so it was particularly pleasing to welcome the public and our supporters back again. These events cannot happen without the support of the RNLI ‘family’ of volunteers including fundraisers, crew members and their families – we thank them all for their time and efforts.”
Notes to editors
· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station
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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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