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Sell-out gig at village pub raised more than £2,000 for Hunstanton RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A village pub presented the proceeds from an open-air concert to a Norfolk lifeboat station on 18 August.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

From left, Steve Webber, Bob McDonald, Ann-Marie Wing, Darren Wing and Dave Taylor at the Queen Victoria, at Snettisham
More than 300 attended Life Fest 200 at the Queen Victoria at Snettisham, near Hunstanton, on 20 July.

Tickets for the concert, which was headlined by tribute act The Very Beautiful South, sold out weeks in advance.

Darren and Ann-Marie Wing, who run the 'Queen Vic' have adopted the RNLI as their chosen charity for the year, to mark the 200th anniversary of both the institution and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.

The couple, who took on the pub two years ago, expected the gig to raise £2,000, but the grand total came in at £2,095.

Ann-Marie said: 'Seeing how well it went and all the comments, it showed how every glass we had to wash afterwards was worth it.

'The RNLI is local to us and you never know when someone's going to need them.'

Hunstanton RNLI treasurer Bob McDonald thanked the Wings and pub regulars Steve Webber and Dave Taylor, who helped organise the event.

'Our crew go out and save people's lives and I know what that costs for their kit, their training and all kinds of other things,' he said.

'Without amazing people like you we would not be able to do what we do.'

The pub's popular Sunday quiz nights, which are usually packed out, are also being held in aid of Hunstanton RNLI.

Notes to editors

Hunstanton is one of the RNLI's busiest lifeboat stations, which operates both a fast inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and a search and rescue hovercraft, Hunstanton Flyer.

Like more than 200 lifeboat stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work would not be possible without the kindness of those who support the charity which saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the birth of 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.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

The Very Beautiful South on stage at the event

RNLI/Chris Bishop

The Very Beautiful South on stage at the event

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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