Donate now

Gift in memory of Michael Rowbottom will help Hunstanton RNLI save lives at sea

Lifeboats News Release

The family of a keen boater donated £2,500 in his memory to a Norfolk lifeboat station on 18 August.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

From left Leesa Espley, Paul Stewart, Stuart Rowbottom, Lee Torrice and Stormy Stan at Hunstanton RNLI
Michael Rowbottom from Surfleet, near Spalding in Lincolnshire, remembered the RNLI with a £2,000 legacy.

A collection at his funeral, which was held in February after he passed away at the age of 81, raised a further £500.

Mr Rowbottom's son Stuart presented the donation to crew members at Hunstanton RNLI after one of their weekly training launches.

'He was always a boating man,' he said. 'He had a boat at Surfleet so it was something he always supported.'

Paul Stewart, one of the launch authorities at the lifeboat station, said its lifesaving work would not be possible without the kindness of those who make donations or remember the RNLI in their wills.


Notes to editors

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest lifeboat stations, operating both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

It covers The Wash, a tidal estuary fed by five main rivers of more than 100 square miles, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of those who give donations or leave legacies to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the RNLI and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office 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.

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.

Categories