Littlehampton RNLI ready to welcome visitors to exciting Open Day

The action-packed day – which is part of Littlehampton Harbour’s Waterfront Festival – will give members of the public the opportunity to find out all about their local RNLI lifeboat station and the vital role its volunteers play in saving lives at sea.

From 10.00am to 4.00pm, visitors will be able to take a closer look at the lifeboat station’s two lifeboats – Renee Sherman and Ray of Hope – tour the boathouse and crew room, meet the crew, and find out what it’s like to be ‘out on a shout’. Subject to taskings, the crew will conduct a search and rescue demonstration in Littlehampton Harbour.*

Visitors will also be able to find out more about how to stay safe at the coast and in the water from Littlehampton RNLI’s water safety team.

Meanwhile, Littlehampton RNLI’s fundraising crew will host fun activities for all the family, including a race against the clock to dress as quickly as possible in full RNLI crew kit, face painting, glitter tattoos, scavenger hunt, plant sale, and a stall selling RNLI goodies. The RNLI’s mascot ‘Stormy Stan’ will greet people alongside his inflatable lifeboat.

New for 2024 is a chance to drive a remote-control replica Arun-Class lifeboat. The Arun-Class lifeboat was built in Littlehampton and was named after the River Arun. The lifeboats served the RNLI from 1971 to 2008.

Nick White, Littlehampton RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station is right at the heart of Littlehampton Harbour. We’re extremely lucky and grateful to have the full support of the community for our lifesaving work. We’re all local people, and we’re all volunteers, so we always enjoy opening our doors to let everyone find out more about what we do and how we save lives at sea.’

Cian Mathews, Littlehampton RNLI’s Fundraising Chair, added: ‘Our Open Day is shaping up to be a very special event, and there’s going to be lots to do for all the family. This year, the RNLI is celebrating its 200th anniversary, so we’re aiming to make this Littlehampton RNLI’s biggest and best Open Day yet!’

ENDS

Notes to editors

EVENT: Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station Open Day – part of Littlehampton Harbour’s Waterfront Festival

LOCATION: Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station, Fisherman’s Quay, Surrey Street, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5BL

DATE: Sunday 21 July 2024

TIME: 10.00am to 4.00pm

ADMISSION: Free – all welcome

*Please note that the search and rescue demonstration is subject to taskings.

Littlehampton RNLI’s volunteer crew look after the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Bognor Regis and Worthing. Littlehampton RNLI is independent from the Coastguard and receives no government funding. To find out more about Littlehampton RNLI, see https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/27/10-facts-about-littlehampton-rnli-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Beth Brooks, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI
07544 209256 [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager, SE & London
07724 801305 [email protected]

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.

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.