
Fowey RNLI lifeboats celebrate double anniversary in iconic pretty bus stop
Over a few wet and windy days in February a team of Fowey’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew renovated Fowey’s iconic ‘pretty bus stop’, ready for its transformation into a Fowey RNLI lifeboat themed design.
The pretty bus stop design was completed in time for March 4th, when the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, celebrates its 200th anniversary. It also marks the start of a year of commemorative events to celebrate Fowey lifeboats’ 165th anniversary.
Fowey’s pretty bus stop is looked after by Sarah Worne, who updates it every few months with a new design theme. It has become a firm favourite with locals and visitors to Fowey and even has its own Facebook page with followers around the world!
Having had many coats of paint applied and removed over the years, the bus stop walls were in a very sorry state and needed renovation work before Fowey's RNLI lifeboat design could begin. So a working party consisting of volunteer lifeboat crew, and St Austell builder, John Truscott, got together to give it some much needed TLC. After scraping off all the old paint the walls were pre-rendered, tanking was applied to prevent damp and the walls were then plastered by John. The lifeboat volunteers didn’t stop there though, they also pressure washed the benches, re-painted the seats and cleaned the gutters.
Once the walls were restored to pristine condition it was time to get creative. Crew member Will Maher runs his own design agency and volunteered to help with a design. Will and his illustrator Jess produced an illustration featuring both the Fowey lifeboats, the Trent and the D class and local landmark the Gribben Head Daymark. The design forms the centrepiece of the bus stop and will also be used to publicise Fowey's RNLI lifeboat events throughout the anniversary year.
It was then all hands on deck to get the bus stop finished by March 4th, the day the RNLI officially marks its 200th bicentenary. The team used Will’s illustration printed onto boards, for the back wall, with the rest of the design hand-painted by Sarah. Finishing touches were added with new cushions and an RNLI planter to complete the restoration.
The bus stop now not only looks stunning, but also has plenty of informative lifeboat leaflets, so whilst waiting for a bus, passengers can find out more about the lifesaving work of the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea.
Fowey Lifeboat Press Officer, Cathy Baillie said: ‘We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped to restore Fowey’s pretty bus stop. In particular I’d like to thank builder John Truscott of J.Truscott Property and Garden Services, for supplying the plaster and plastering the walls. Crew member Gary Jane, for supplying building materials and organising the working parties. Also, crew member, Will Maher of Fowey based WM Designs for producing the illustration. Thanks also to Cornwall Signs for printing the illustration section. Thank you to Sarah Worne, aka The Bird Lady of Fowey, for all her help and hard work, adding the hand-painted elements and finishing touches to the design. Finally, a big thank you to all the volunteer crew members who gave up evenings and weekends to help with the preparation work, giving up even more of their free time voluntarily to help their local community.’
You can find out more about the pretty bus stop on Facebook at foweyprettybusstop and Fowey lifeboats at FoweyLifeboat.
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.