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Sea anglers reel in more than £600 for Hunstanton RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A Norfolk lifeboat crew netted a £666 donation on Sunday 17 November, from a memorial fishing match.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

From left, Geoff Needham, Charlie Needham, Henry Randell with the Phil Bird Memorial Trophy, Anita Neill and Paul Stewart at Hunstanton RNLI
Some 30 anglers cast their lines in the Phil Bird Memorial Match in aid of the charity that saves lives at sea on Heacham Beach on Saturday 2 November.

Several went home with aching arms, as more than 300 whiting were landed and returned after the bites came thick and fast on the ebb tide.

The event has been held over the years in memory of Phil Bird, a bait digger, keen angler and RNLI supporter, who passed away at the age of 49 in 2005.

Charlie Needham, who organised the match in memory of his friend attended Hunstanton lifeboat station on Sunday along with Henry Randell, who won the contest and Phil's widow Anita Neill.

Charlie - whose dad Geoff is one of the longest-serving volunteers at Hunstanton - said: 'Phil was a family friend and a top bloke who was taken from us far too soon almost 20 years ago, bait digger, fisherman, family man extraordinaire and an all round, genuine nice bloke.

'All fishermen should support the RNLI. You never know when you might need them.'

Henry, who is a member of the Team England Sea Angling squad, said: 'I'm a commercial fisherman as well, fishing for crabs and lobsters out of Cromer.

'The RNLI's always in your heart because you never know when you're going to need help - it's an essential service on the coast.'

Anita said her late husband had always supported the RNLI, while her brother Brian Penty was a crew member at Hunstanton.

Launch Authority Paul Stewart said the money would help the Hunstanton crew continue their lifesaving work.

Notes to Editors

Hunstanton is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Norfolk.

Its volunteers operate both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and a search and rescue hovercraft from their base on Sea Lane.

Like more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, the crew's lifesaving work could not be possible without the kindness of supporters who raise funds, make donations or leave a legacy to the charity.

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

One of the competitors waiting for a bite in the Phil Bird Memorial Match on Heacham Beach

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.

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