
Morris Dancers make a stand for RNLI Whitstable
It was a rather damp and miserable morning around Whitstable lifeboat station on Sunday with even a few snow flurries but the atmosphere in the station was brightened somewhat with the colourful arrival of members of the Whitstable based ‘Dead Horse Morris’.
Morris ‘Bagman’ Angali Clifton-Fearnside said: 'We have supported the Whitstable RNLI since 1986 when one of our original musicians, Alice Nunn was involved in yachting and we reasoned that it might be better if we supported the local lifeboat in case she got into difficulties rather than have to find another musician!
'Since then the Whitstable RNLI is the only charity we have consistently supported over the years and we frequently can be found dancing outside the station and around the harbour in support of the cause our last stand (dance) being on Boxing Day when we raised £305.'
Dead Horse Morris Men & Broomdasher Ladies have around 35 active members dancing and entertaining audiences around Kent and beyond and their season runs from St George’s Day in April through until October with a final outing on Boxing Day performing not only for the lifeboat but also for other charitable causes.
Pete and Jo Fenton who have been newly appointed as fundraising chair people of Whitstable RNLI were on hand to accept their, more than generous, donation of a new Flat Screen TV.
Jo said: 'The TV has now been mounted on the wall in the boathouse viewing area for visitors to Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat station to view information and videos about the station history and current shouts and training exercises.
'We would like to thank Angali and team for their continued supported towards our community lifeboat.
'This year has only seen 1 shout so far but the crew tirelessly continue their weekly training in preparation for the busy season that's fast approaching us. Without donations like these and the support of the volunteer crew and the monies raised by so many, our lifeboat wouldn't be able to operate.
'We look forwards to seeing them later this year, in and around the harbour, and for their next kind donation.'
Once the donation had been made, the Dead Horse Morris crew took shelter from the inclement weather in the lifeboat shop and gave the staff an impromptu musical extravaganza, which they thoroughly enjoyed!
Notes to editors
Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.
The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.
She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.
RNLI media contacts
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Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
07741 012004/ [email protected]
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Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer London/southeast/east Tel: 0207 6207416 Mob: (07785) 296252 [email protected]
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For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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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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.