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Former Scout Christmas float driver Alan Reynolds donates his model lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

Local man and former driver for 1st Milton Scouts Santa Float, Alan Reynolds has kindly donated his award winning model lifeboat to Weston super Mare RNLI.

Holly Turner and Alan Reynolds at the RNLI shop with the lifeboat

RNLI/Holly Turner

Holly Turner and Alan Reynolds at the RNLI shop with the lifeboat

Alan spent four years building a RNLI Tyne Class radio controlled model lifeboat, finishing it in 1998. He had been storing it in his workshop at his home in Ashcombe, but after 26 years he has decided to donate it to his local RNLI station here in Weston.

The 47 inch immaculate model boat is now on show at the Weston RNLI Shop by Marine Lake, so that anyone visiting the shop or living locally can admire Alans handy work. He said: ‘When I finished the built I often took the boat out on the water, racing it in some competitions but really the most enjoyable part of the process for me is constructing it. It’s been sat in my workshop for some years and I decided it was time to give it a new home and new lease of life.’

Alan built the boat from scratch, hand making every detail apart from the battery, radio control and motor, which came from a VW Golf heater. It was based on the nearest full-size RNLI Lifeboat the Tyne Class which was based at RNLI Salcombe. He continued: ‘I bought the original plans for the boat and I scaled them down to 1:12th scale making an exact replica. I visited RNLI Salcombes crew, who were very welcoming and took further detailed measurements. The hull and upper work are made in plywood and timber, I used jigs to fabricate guardrails and other metal fittings and the deck is finished in Weston beach sand.’

In 1999 Alan was awarded the Silver Medal at the International Model Boat Show held in London, for the way the boat looked and performed. When asked what had inspired him to make the boat, Alan replied: ‘“As a former mechanic with Avon Fire Bridge I wanted to build a lifeboat as I know the RNLI keep their boats in pristine condition, just as the the fire service do their fire engines.’

Over the years Alan has had a number of connections with the Weston RNLI Team: ‘I’ve lived in Weston my whole life and many of the people I grew up with joined the station as crew and volunteers. I was also part of the 1st Milton Scout Group and have been raising money for the RNLI for over 40 years through the Santa’s Sleigh Christmas Float.’

Weston RNLI would like to thank Alan for donating his boat to the station, as well as his unwavering support to the RNLI. Without people like Alan, the RNLI would not be able to save lives at sea. Your donations help to fund training sessions and kit for our volunteer lifesavers, to educate people to stay safe and prevent tradgedies on and offshore.

RNLI/Holly Turner

Allan's Model Boat at the Weston RNLI Shop

RNLI/Holly Turner

Allan's Model Boat in the water back in 1999

RNLI/Holly Turner

The bare bones of the model boat hull at the start of the build

RNLI/Holly Turner

Making progress with the model boat build in 1998

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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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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