Making A Splash at Whitstable RNLI

Jo Fenton, Joint Chair of Fundraising at the station said “Initially we had 70 people register for the event prior to the start but several more joined later swelling the numbers to around 100 or slightly more and this was an extremely good turnout”

Shortly after 10.00am cheered on by family and friends and with the lifeboat just offshore in support, the intrepid group ran or walked down the beach in front of the boathouse to the water’s edge with many diving straight in but with others taking it somewhat more cautiously and wading in to perhaps waist high.

For some it was a quick in and out but others and probably to most experienced ‘year round’ swimmers spent longer in the calm but chilly water which had a temperature of around 7-degrees.

Amongst those taking part were Sarah Zuniga and her friend Jen Shearman. Said Jen “Sarah who is a regular winter swimmer had been telling me how wonderful it was so I thought we could do it on Boxing Day and it was gorgeous, beautiful conditions as it was so calm”

Another group taking part was Lisa Faulkner and her family and friends. For Lisa this was her first time “I thought you reach a certain age and it is something you have to do and it was for such a good cause”.

“Jo Fenton concluded “It was the first time we have held a sponsored dip at the station and I think it all went very well, everybody seemed to enjoy the experience and we thank them for taking part along with all those who helped organise and promote the morning and to Whitstable Yacht Club for providing a safety boat. The event has raised around £700 for lifeboat funds”

Notes to editors

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• RNLI media contacts

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]

• Julie Rainey - Regional Communications Lead : 07827 358256

• 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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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.