
Headway Kent visit Whitstable RNLI
Like many lifeboat stations RNLI Whitstable has a busy programme of group visits to the boathouse at the harbour.
On hand were Visits Officer David Hayward and Visits Team member Sue Evans. They introduced members of the crew including Ben (helm) and Michael (tractor driver), who explained the workings of the RNLI, the station, boat and about some of our rescues. It was also fortunate that their visit coincided with the lifeboat launching on exercise so the visitors were able to witness the lifeboat launch at first hand.
Genevieve Bishop-Townley, Activity Coordinator for the Canterbury Hub of Headway Kent said “The Crew were so patient and kind to all members of the group and took their time in listening and answering questions. The Clients had an amazing time looking at the boat and watching the launch. A huge thank you from Headway Kent”.
Headway East Kent is an independent charity working to provide social rehabilitation to adults with acquired brain injury as well as offering support to their families and carers. The charity has been established for 30 years and has five-day centres, termed Headway Houses, in East Kent; Canterbury, Ashford, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone.
Whitstable RNLI’s David Hayward said: “We have a very busy programme of visits to the station ranging from schools to adult groups and organizations. It is always particularly pleasing to welcome other charitable organisations to our station especially in this case when we hope that we can help make a difference to other people’s lives as well as our own cause of saving lives at sea and it was also very appropriate that Genevieve had family links with the Station her father Doug was a launch tractor driver and grandfather Brian was also a crew member. Her grandfather's painting of a previous Whitstable lifeboat still hanging in our staircase”.
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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