After a week of rain and cool winds the afternoon had settled weather albeit windy at times. Once again the boatpark had a variety of stalls giving brisk trade to hundreds of supporters who had come along for this major event in Newbiggin's summer calendar. Stalls including souvenirs, tombola, home made cards, nearly new, bric a brac, raffle and home made cakes enjoyed a roaring trade with stock cleared out. Elsewhere in the main arena there was live music along with pirates from The Historical Living Company who 'prowled' the promenade to secure donations. The Ladies fundraising team also kept the visitor's appetite for home made cakes and refreshments going throughout the afternoon within the boathouse as well as those wanting to escape the sun. Newbiggin Coastguard Rescue Team along with lifeboats from Blyth lifeboat Station provided other displays around the boathouse area.
At sea Newbiggin lifeboat kept the visitors entertained with rescue demonstrations in the Newbiggin Bay area.
With the afternoon concluding the various raffles and competition results were announced with all prizes claimed on the day. A full list of winning tickets and prizes is on display outside the lifeboat station.
Anne Main Chair of the Newbiggin Ladies Lifeboat Fundraising Team commented ' on behalf of the volunteers at Newbiggin lifeboat station can I send out a big thank you to everyone who has made this local fundraising event such a huge success today, it is greatly appreciated by us all.'
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.