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Families of lifesavers on call at Hunstanton RNLI over Christmas

Lifeboats News Release

Seven families who volunteer at the same RNLI lifeboat station will all have their pagers on over Christmas.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Some of the crew and family members from Hunstanton RNLI, who will be listening out for their pagers over Christmas
For a mother and her two daughters, three fathers and sons, and three husbands and wives will all be among those on call at Hunstanton in Norfolk throughout the festive period.

They and other colleagues, some of whom can trace their connection to the station back through two or three generations, are are all part of the RNLI family, who volunteer their time 24/7, 365 days a year - including 25 December.

For Christmas Day is no different to any other for countless families whose members volunteer for the RNLI at sea or ashore in the event of a shout.

The charity that saves lives at sea has launched a festive appeal to help fund the work of its 238 stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, who all share the same commitment to rescue those in danger as it gets set to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2024.

Clare Kyle is one of the tractor drivers at Hunstanton. Her daughter Louise, 19, crews on both the station's lifeboat and hovercraft, while her 22-year-old sister Elise is part of the shore crew.

Clare, who's planning a traditional Christmas roast with her family, said: 'It's the same as any other day, if the pagers go off, we'll just drop everything and go.'

Louise added: 'Even if we're having Christmas dinner, if someone needs us we've got to be there.'

Dave Cleland and his son Lewis are both crew on Hunstanton's inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk, while Dave is also a hovercraft commander.

'We have to be ready and available all through Christmas,' said Dave, who has volunteered for more than 26 years at the station.

'When someone's in peril and they need help, we've just got to be there.'

Jenny Butler, whose husband Jon is in the ILB (inshore lifeboat) crew and a hovercraft pilot, said: 'You're cooking the dinner, you're opening the presents and there's always: What if the pager goes off and Daddy's got to go and you don't know where he's going or how long he's going to be.'

Families with two or more members volunteering at the station also include the Espleys, Cravens, Nicols, Smiths and Torrices.

While some of the Hunstanton crew were inspired by grandfathers, fathers or other relations, others found their way to the boathouse via their children.

Roger Smith crews on both lifeboat and hovercraft, while his wife Carol is part of the station's education team.

Roger signed up after his then six-year-old son Logan, now 14, raised more than £700 for the RNLI with a sponsored walk on the nearby beach.

'It was a significant amount that he raised and when I found out what it goes towards it just inspired me,' he said. 'Carol then joined as an education volunteer, then my mum, Libby Wood, started volunteering in the station shop.'

It was the same story for Liam Nicol after his oldest son Will became part of the crew.

And while father has now followed son, Liam's younger son Elliott also hopes to sign up as soon as he turns 18 in March.

Ryan Darby was inspired by his father and grandfather, who were both part of the crew.

Rowan Greenwood's grandfather Alan was part of the original crew which signed up after the station re-opened in the late 1970s after being mothballed for decades.

He said hearing stories as a boy made him want to join up.

The RNLI has launched a special Christmas appeal to raise funds for its work into the New Year and beyond.

In 2022, the charity's volunteers launched a total of 9,312 times, saving 389 lives and aiding a further 16,476 people.

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period every year.

Whatever weather winter throws at them, their crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea.

These rescues and others all year round are only made possible by the RNLI’s supporters, who help to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews.

Kitting out a crew member costs almost £2,000, while the average annual training cost for a sea-going volunteer is £1,400.

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work into the New Year and beyond, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal.

Notes for editor

Hunstanton is one of the RNLI's busiest stations in Norfolk.

So far in 2023, its lifeboat and hovercraft have launched 27 times, with one life saved and 19 people aided.

The station is one of just four around the coastline of the UK and Ireland which operates a hovercraft.

Its volunteers are on call 24/7, 365 days a year - including Christmas Day.

Since Hunstanton's current station opened in 1979, its inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and her predecessors have helped save 140 lives and render assistance to more than 600 people who found themselves in difficulty or in danger.

In 2003, she was joined by the hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer, which has since then been launched 250 times, saved 13 lives and assisted a further 150 people.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (North East and East) on: 07824 518641.







RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton RNLI crew members (from left) Elise, Louise and Clare Kyle

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton RNLI crew members Lewis Cleland (left) and his father Dave

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton RNLI crew member Jon Butler, with wife Jenny and future crew members Rowan (front left), aged eight and five-year-old brother Eden

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Roger and Carol Smith, with son Logan and daughter Aurora

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Crew members Andrew and Kate Craven, with future crew members George (front right), aged seven and Harry, aged five

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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