
New Year’s Day victory for New Brighton RNLI
The Merseyside station’s traditional tug of war contest against the Mersey Divers Sub Aqua Club – Branch 5 ended in a 2-0 victory to the RNLI team.
It was a pleasant, sunny New Year’s Day on the Wirral this year for the traditional tug of war contest between a local diving club and New Brighton RNLI. This 2023 matchup marks the fourth time that the two teams have faced off against one another, with New Brighton’s volunteer crew having already claimed victory in the previous three contests.
The event has been unable to go ahead for the last two years due to restrictions brought about by Covid-19. So it was no surprise to see hundreds of people come along to cheer and shout their support as the two teams battled hard against one another.
In a best-of-three contest presided over by the Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Jeff Green, both teams displayed strength and determination. New Brighton RNLI were the eventual victors, taking two of the three rounds. They claimed the newly named Bob Grant Memorial Trophy, in memory of the late Captain Robert Grant, a valued member of New Brighton RNLI for many years.
Whilst the friendly competition formed the centrepiece of the day, the real winners were all those that came to show their support and donated to New Brighton RNLI’s continued efforts to save lives at sea. The tug of war event alone raised over £1000, with a further £400 coming from local open-water swimming group The Chilly Dippers, who came down in large numbers to support the event.
Ian Thornton, Lifeboat Operations Manager at New Brighton RNLI, said:
‘It’s a great feeling to finally be able to have this event again. That feeling was felt throughout the community and showed in how many people came out to support the day and how generously they donated. I’d like to offer a special thanks to the Mersey Divers club for being such brilliant sports and providing stellar opposition, and of course to all our crew who made the day such a success, from the tug of war team to the shop volunteers, who put on an excellent array of much-needed refreshments at the boathouse afterwards!’
Eleanor O’Neill, Treasurer for New Brighton RNLI, added:
'This was a great event for all involved, but I'd like to extend a special thanks to all those friends, family and community members that volunteered their time to collect donations in buckets on the day, ensuring we could make the most of this memorable event. Hopefully we will see you all again for the same next year!'
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the north east corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
RNLI Media Contacts
Connor Wray – Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer (DLPO)
07756553092
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.