
Model Lifeboats mark RNLI 200 at Whitstable
Normally visitors to Whitstable RNLI can expect to see only one lifeboat in or outside the boathouse but on Sunday they were treated to the spectacle of 16 lifeboat’s gracing the boat hall albeit somewhat smaller than Lewisco the stations B-Class lifeboat.
Chairman Robin Graham said “We had a display of 16 miniature lifeboats representing the various classes from over the years and as such I think the display wa very impressive and we had around 600 to 700 visitors”,
“Of the classes of lifeboats on display perhaps one of the most interesting was Adam Maplesden’s model of ‘Queen’ one of only six steam powered lifeboats built for the RNLI and dating from 1897 which used water jet propulsion from a turbine some 120-years before the development of the Shannon class lifeboat which also uses water jet technology a model of which was displayed by Ray Stockley”.
Robin continued “Many of the model lifeboats have taken our members several years to build for example Ken Goddard spent 6-years building his model of Dover’s Severn Class lifeboat”.
Also on display was a Leggo model of the Whitstable boathouse complete with the stations B-Class on the pad outside. Built by Matt Judge, son of Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Judge, Matt explained that he wanted to do something unusual to mark the 200th anniversary so embarked on the 4-month long construction of his Leggo version. His time was well spent as his efforts were very much admired.
The model boat club invited visitors to vote for what they thought was the best exhibit and the vote was very close, Adam Maplesden beat his dad Paul into second by just 4 votes.
Robin concluded “A great day was had by all, we witnessed a real launch of the lifeboat and the save return of the crew.I t was a privilege to be around such brave people doing the job on a purely voluntary basis.
Notes to editors
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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.
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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.
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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.
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RNLI media contacts
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Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
07741 012004/ [email protected] -
Julie Rainey - Regional Communications Lead : 07827 358256
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Hatti Mellor - Regional Communications Manager :07724 801305
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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