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A band concert and a shout for Burnham-on-Sea RNLI volunteers

Lifeboats News Release

Burnham-on-Sea fundraisers had organised a band concert at their local lifeboat station, today, 11 August, to mark the RNLI 200 celebrations.

Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic lifeboat on way to the beach

RNLI/Mike Lang

Burnham-on-Sea Atlantic lifeboat on way to the beach

The Worlewind band from Weston-super-Mare were just finishing setting up, at the lifeboat station, when the pagers went off. Luckily the volunteer crew with forethought had prepared for this unlikely event. Members of the public were cleared to a safe area, and normal launch preparations put into place.

The band proceeded to play, and atmospheric music, accompanied the Burnham Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Doris Day and Brian as launching tractor and boat left for the Esplande and Burnham Jetty. The D class lifeboat ‘Burnham Reach had already left for the beach

Apparently, two young girls had been reported being carried out to sea in an inflatable dinghy on the dropping tide. The D class lifeboat volunteer crew discovered the partially inflated dinghy being towed towards the beach by a gentleman in a kayak

D Class Helm Jason Coombes explains; ‘We took the two girls on to our D class and transported them as close to the shore edge as possible. The Burnham hovercraft was on the beach training so we requested their assistance in taking the cold and scared casualties back to hard sand. This they did and handed their charges into the care of the Brean Beach Warden.

During all this, the Atlantic 85 lifeboat had stood off to monitor and relay messages to Milford Haven Coastguard control. Both lifeboats were stood down and returned to Burnham-on-Sea. A good multi-agency rescue

Upon their return, the lifeboat crews posed with the band conductor and key personnel, during the refreshment interval. It had been a long day, since they had already launched at 09.00 am and recovered for their usual Sunday morning training

The band played two sets.with an interval halfway through where tea, biscuits and cake were served with payment by donation. Around a hundred audience was estimated, although people tended to come and go during the afternoon. The warm summer weather ensured the outdoor concert’s success and the interval’s refreshments well appreciated

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Mike Lang, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Burnham-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Station on 07889 815860 or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.


Operational crews during the interval

RNLI/Mike Lang

Operational crews during the interval
Burnham-on-Sea RNLI fund-raisers ready to serve

RNLI/Mike Lang

Burnham-on-Sea RNLI fund-raisers ready to serve
The Worlewind band in action

RNLI/Mike Lang

The Worlewind band in action

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.

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