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Walmer RNLI receives three community donations in a month

Lifeboats News Release

Walmer lifeboat station is delighted to have received three generous donations and benefitted from a highly successful Christmas Fair this month.

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

Saturday 19 November saw lifeboat volunteers welcome Chris Saville, Chair and a founding member of the Dover, Deal and District Bar Billiards League to the boathouse. He was accompanied by his wife, other members of the League and Lin Callanan and her son Paul. Lin is the widow of former Chairman of the League Mike Callanan. It was formed in 1973 but sadly has had to fold after nearly 50 years due to falling membership post-Covid and fewer venues for the games to take place. The money was raised through the sale of the billiards tables, and it was Mike’s wish that any money raised should be donated to the RNLI. Lin presented the station with an amazing donation of £12,595.35.

The money has been used to purchase new wet weather kit for each of the station’s shore crew and a plaque recognising the donation had been placed on the wall of the boathouse above the kit. Speaking on behalf of the crew, Helm Dan Sinclair said, ‘We are extremely grateful for this most generous donation. As boat crew we are well prepared in our dry suits for the conditions we face when going to sea. Without our shore crew, however, we couldn’t respond to emergency calls in the first place as we would be unable to safely launch and recover our lifeboats. The kit you have generously provided will help them keep warm and dry on the beach.’

On November 5, Walmer helm Dan Sinclair and station Fundraising lead Michael Atkins welcomed Stewart Jefferis, manager of the Hamilton Road branch of the Co-op, accompanied by his wife to the lifeboat station where they were presented a donation cheque for £4,629.79 as part of the Co-op’s Community Fund Scheme. The money was raised through the Co-op members in two local stores. It enables members to contribute, through their purchases, to support community organisations and local causes.

Walmer Lifeboat Chairman Roger Blown attended Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club’s Jim Herron’s ‘Last Supper’ as Club Captain on 21 October. Jim had nominated the RNLI as his Charity of the Year, and following a number of fundraising events, including a highly successful Captain’s Day in July, has raised £14,000. In recognition of this achievement and with the grateful thanks of the station, Roger presented the club with a limited-edition print by the lifeboat station School Visits Officer and local artist Jenny Preston.

Added to these was a highly successful Christmas Fair held at The King’s Head in Kingsdown on 12 November. Volunteers from the station collected an amazing £1017.00 from sales of souvenirs and gifts in a pop-up shop, and a further £767.34 was collected by from the raffle and other stalls on offer.

Last year there were 8,868 launches from lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland saving 296 lives. As a charity, the RNLI relies on donations from its supporters. Generosity such as this from the local community helps us train a crew member so they have the skills to keep themselves and others safe. It helps transform a willing lifeboat volunteer into a competent lifesaver. Donations ensure that RNLI lifeboat crew are ready 24/7, whenever an emergency arises. It provides our lifesavers with essential equipment, crucial to their safety in the conditions they face.

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-

lifeboat-station

Photo 1 Members of the Dover, Deal and District Bar Billiards League presenting a cheque for new shore crew kit.

Photo 2 Walmer helm Dan Sinclair, Fundraising Lead Michael Atkins and Co-op manager Stewart Jefferis.

Photo 3 Walmer Chair Roger Blown presents a print to Walmer and Kingsdown’s Captain Jim Herron.

Photo 4 Christmas Fair in Kingsdown.


RNLI media contacts
  • Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
  • For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

RNLI/Christopher Winslade

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, 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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