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Brand new lifeboat on display on Hunstanton RNLI stand at Sandringham Show

Lifeboats News Release

The charity that saves lives at sea's newest lifeboat went on show on 31 July at one of Norfolk's biggest summer events.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Penny J on display at the Sandringham Flower Show
More than 20,000 visitors packed into the Royal Estate at Sandringham, near King's Lynn, for the much-loved annual flower show.

Hunstanton RNLI are regulars at the popular event, with a merchandise stall and crew members on hand to talk about the station's lifesaving work.

This year, they were joined by Penny J, a brand new B class Atlantic lifeboat, which is on its way to Berwick-upon-Tweed, some 300 miles away in Northumberland.

Andy Rodgers, the RNLI's regional technical lead for the North and East, is delivering the vessel to her new home.

She drew a constant stream of visitors to the Norfolk RNLI team's stand during her one-day stop-off.

The craft is a sister of the Hunstanton crew's B class lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk, which they use to cover The Wash and parts of the north Norfolk coast.

Launch Authority Paul Stewart and Helm Ryan Darby were on hand with members of the stations visits team to speak to show-goers about their work.

Like their colleagues in Northumberland, the volunteer crew at Hunstanton are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.

The work of both stations and more than 230 like them around the coast of the UK and Ireland would not be possible without those who support the charity that saves lives at sea.

Editor's notes

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest lifeboat stations, operating both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

It covers The Wash, a tidal estuary fed by five main rivers of more than 100 square miles, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of those who give donations or leave legacies to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of both 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

Penny J with volunteers from Hunstanton RNLI

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Andy Rodgers, who is delivering Penny J to her new home at Berwick-upon-Tweed

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton Launch Authority Paul Stewart and Helm Ryan Darby at the Sandringham Flower Show

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Stormy Stan was in demand for pictures and selfies at Sandringham Flower Show

RNLI/Chris Bishop

The new B-Class lifeboat Penny J

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.