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Gravesend RNLI broadcasts live on BBC Radio Kent

Lifeboats News Release

On Thursday 10 August BBC Radio Kent were live from Light Vessel Twenty One at St Andrews Quay Gravesend which featured a live interview with Gravesend Lifeboat crew.

RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders and BBC Radio Kent's Sophie Sutton standing outside the LV21 red ship

RNLI

RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders and BBC Radio Kent's Sophie Sutton

LV21 is a historic, forty metre steel-hulled lightship which saw most of its service off the Kent coast, retiring from service in 2008 and now transformed into a floating art space and performance facility.

Gravesend RNLI were invited to take part in the live broadcast by LV21 owner Páivi Seppälä, the broadcast was a fantastic chance to raise awareness of arts and education in Gravesend but also the duties carried out by the RNLI on the River Thames.

Gravesend RNLI’s Thames Commander Liam Sidders spoke live on The Dominic King Show.

Liam said, ‘It was a special moment to chat to Dominic & Sophie on BBC Radio Kent at the LV21, it’s a vessel that supports the RNLI after it was actually involved in a collision in 1981 and its crew were welfare checked by Dover RNLI’.

'Today, as it's so close to our lifeboat station, we occasionally train on it with our volunteers to carry out casualty care exercise scenarios, so we're proud to celebrate the great work LV21 do whilst discussing the duties we as the RNLI carry out across the River Thames’.

If you missed The Dominic King Show broadcast live from Gravesend, you can listen again on the BBC Sounds app.

Interview taking place at outside the big red ship, LV21 in Gravesend

RNLI

Interview taking place at LV21, Gravesend

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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