Blue Anchor Leisure and RNLI Skegness: A friendship spanning decades

The company has shown exceptional support for the RNLI team, including former Blue Anchor staff member, Coxswain Ray Chapman MBE, who retired after an impressive 46 years of service to the RNLI in 2017 whilst working for Blue Anchor.

Other staff members in Blue Anchor's history who have volunteered with RNLI Skegness include Steve Wymer and Deano Sumner, who had significant volunteering careers with the station.

The tradition continues with current volunteers like Adam Holmes (Transport Manager), Mechanic and Helm, and James Porter (HGV Driver), Crew Member, who also form part of Blue Anchor's workforce.

Blue Anchor Leisure has gone beyond just supporting its employees in their RNLI roles. The company has provided invaluable assistance by sponsoring events such as the annual Lifeboat Ball and inviting RNLI Skegness to their events, including their Fun Days and attending RNLI events such as Flag Day.

The company has opened its venues, including The Club Tropicana and Woody's Bar and Restaurant, for RNLI fundraising activities. Throughout 2022, the Blue Anchor Leisure team; alongside their continued support welcomed Skegness RNLI fundraisers into their venues which raised over £1,500 for the charity that saves lives at sea. This was topped in 2023, with a total currently sitting at £2,626.25. This was partly due to the engagement Blue Anchor have with the station's Pubs & Clubs Tour.

Their continuous support doesn't stop there. Blue Anchor Leisure has taken an active role in promoting water safety. As a Water Safety Ambassador, the company shares water safety guidance throughout their venues and across their holiday parks. This initiative has undoubtedly contributed to reducing incidents along the coastline.

'Having businesses like Blue Anchor Leisure supporting us is vital,' says Alan Gordon-Griffiths, Water Safety Advisor at RNLI. 'Their commitment to promoting sea safety advice is invaluable. It's heartening to see a business take such an active role in community safety.'

Businesses near the coast could help us save lives by promoting some of our key water safety messages.

Blue Anchor Leisure has also used its significant online presence to benefit the RNLI. They have filmed content with the station and showcased it on their TikTok account, which attracts millions of views each year. This exposure has raised awareness of the Skegness station among a broad audience. Across two years, content on Blue Anchor's TikTok channel has enabled RNLI Skegness to reach an additional 152,000 people who follow their content.

Brad Johnson, Launch Authority and Press Officer for RNLI Skegness joined the Blue Anchor Superstar team on Bank Holiday Monday as 'Guest Superstar Brad' and took part in all of the activities during the day and evening as part of the station's long term friendship with the Blue Anchor Team. The station documented his day on its social media channels to see a behind the scenes life at one of the region's holiday parks.

Brad Johnson, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Skegness RNLI, appreciates the company's ongoing support: 'Blue Anchor Leisure's active engagement in our fundraising activities and their passion for our work make a significant difference,' he says. 'They are not just a local business but true contributors in our mission.'

Charlotte Dashfield, Children's Entertainment Coordinator at Blue Anchor Leisure, is equally enthusiastic about the long term relationship: 'We love the RNLI and see it as vital that we support their work,' she says 'Helping to reduce incidents across the coastline and keep our customers safe is a priority for us.'

Blue Anchor Leisure began back in 1950 with just one single holiday park. Blue Anchor Leisure in 2023 is now one of the regions largest Holiday Park operator with a portfolio of 16 holiday parks located across the East Coast.

The RNLI extends its heartfelt thanks to the directors of Blue Anchor Leisure for their support. Additionally, the station thanks Chris Merry, Adam Kendrick, and Charlotte Dashfield, for their unwavering support and commitment to embedding the station's mission in their entertainment and guest services programmes.

Notes to Editors: ·

The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Skegness RNLI is based on Tower Esplanade, Skegness. The lifeboat station was founded in 1825 and the volunteer crew use an all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Joel and April Grunnill and D class lifeboat The Holland Family.

Throughout the 2023 Season, Blue Anchor Leisure will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a brand with 50 events and activities.

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:

Brad Johnson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for lifeboat station RNLI on [email protected]

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 142,700 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.