
Fleetwood RNLI attend Armed Forces Week service
On Friday 28 June, Fleetwood RNLI attended the Fylde Memorial Arboretum to reflect on the Armed Forces Week.
The service was dedicated to a memorial for the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy, Royal Marines and Seafarers, who have faithfully served their country.
Volunteer Crew members Nathan Hackney and Bunny Blundell, Lifeboat Operations Manager Tony Cowell and Launch Authority David Smith attended from Fleetwood RNLI, along with Launch Authority Pat Abram from Blackpool RNLI.
Volunteer Crew Nathan Hackney, had the honour of attending as a flag-bearer for the RNLI standard, representing the Fylde Coast RNLI lifeboat stations. Nathan is ex-armed forces and served in the 1st Battalion The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment.
Through joining the armed forces in 1986, Nathan served a decade and had a varied career. He visited countries including Canada, Central America, serving tours in Northern Ireland and with the UN in Cyprus. Nathan is now a lecturer in Offshore Operations at the Fleetwood Offshore Survival Centre.
Nathan said: ‘It was an honour to attend the Armed Forces Week service and represent our station as flag-bearer. As a modern Search and Rescue service, celebrating our 200th year, we have collaborated with armed forces personnel throughout our lifesaving history and continue to in our modern day operations.
'We must remember those who have served in the forces.
Notes to editors
- Fleetwood’s RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat is named KENNETH JAMES PIERPOINT and is a Shannon class boat.
- Fleetwood’s RNLI Inshore Lifeboat is named HARBET and is a D-Class boat.
- Photo credit: RNLI/Tony Cowell
- Fleetwood lifeboat station has been operating since 1859. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to:http://fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk/
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact David Devereux, Fleetwood RNLI Press Officer, on 07591 675733 /[email protected], Amy Teebay, Fleetwood RNLI Deputy Press Officer on [email protected].
Alternatively you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728315 /[email protected]
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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