
St Davids RNLI legacy donation boosts lifesaving fund
An RNLI governor, contributor and supporter who enjoyed visits to St Davids lifeboat station has made a generous donation to the charity following her recent death.
Mrs Mollie Thomas, who died in March aged 94, left a donation to the RNLI in her Will but also requested that any money raised from auctioning some of her possessions be donated to St Davids RNLI. This kind gesture raised an incredible £1,500 for the lifeboat station.
Mollie took an interest in the St Davids lifeboat station in the 1950s and visited many times, enjoying a tour of the old boathouse with her nephew and ex crew member Huw Thornton. Although she was never able to visit the new station and lifeboat, Mollie followed the station and crew progress via social media.
Mollie's family, including great grandsons Henry and Teddy, recently visited the lifeboat station and presented the Lifeboat Operations Manager with a cheque. Henry and Teddy already share their great grandmothers love for the RNLI and have replica lifeboat bath toys.
John Williams, St Davids RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘On behalf of all the crew and members of St Davids lifeboat station, I’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Mollie and her family for this generous donation. The fact that St Davids lifeboat station touched Mollie’s life and made such a deep and lasting impression, enough that she wished to provide us with part of her legacy, is truly amazing. This will enable us to continue delivering a lifesaving capability from our lifeboat station’.
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For more information please telephone Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 804 922 or [email protected] or Eleri Roberts, Regional Media Officer on 07771 941390 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office 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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