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Newhaven RNLI welcomes quartet of Mayors to share gratitude

Lifeboats News Release

Mayors of Peacehaven (Debbie Donovan), Seaford (Sally Markwell), Lewes (Imogen Makepeace) and deputy Mayor of Newhaven (Kim Bishop) were welcomed today by Susan Carroll, Newhaven RNLI’s LMG Chair to visit the lifeboat station. Roger Cohen MBE, (LOM) showed them around.

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell, Roger Cohen MBE, Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace and deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop
Susan Carroll, Newhaven RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Management Group (LMG) Chair, says: ‘We want to say thank you to all our community for their contribution to the lifeboat.’

Newhaven RNLI’s patch extends from Brighton Marina to Belle Toute lighthouse. Newhaven’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats are operated entirely by volunteers of the charity that saves lives at sea.

‘We appreciate all fundraising efforts and the huge support of the people of the towns in our patch. Thank you to everyone who helps us save more lives at sea.’

So far this year Newhaven RNLI has launched on 47 service calls to people in trouble on the water, aiding 24 people and accredited with 6 lives saved.

Kitted out for safety in the charity’s iconic yellow wellies, Debbie Donovan Mayor of Peacehaven, Sally Markwell Mayor of Seaford, Imogen Makepeace Mayor of Lewes and Kim Bishop deputy Mayor of Newhaven went on board the David and Elizabeth Acland Newhaven’s Severn, the largest lifeboat class of the RNLI fleet.

Roger Cohen MBE, Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) says: ‘Our visitors were inspired by the sheer size of the Severn. And the maintenance and training required of our volunteers to keep the lifeboat on service.’

‘Moving around the three decks of the lifeboat and discovering Newhaven’s boathouse, the mayoral party asked questions about the world class kit and ongoing training our volunteers receive.’

Susan Carroll, says: ‘The average training cost per crew member is £1450, a drysuit £850, a helmet £350, seagoing gloves £25. It is the generous donations of our community that ensures our volunteer crew will stay safe on the water.’

Ends

Notes for the Editor
Newhaven Lifeboat – first established in 1803. Newhaven Lifeboat station has been RNLI operated since 1854. The Newhaven volunteer crew have operated their current all-weather lifeboat, the Severn class ‘David and Elizabeth Acland’ for 25 years. Newhaven RNLI also operates a D class inshore lifeboat that began its two-year trial of service in August 2024.
Patch – area of operational service.
RNLI campaign hashtags for social media - #RNLI #NewhavenRNLI #OneCrew #Volunteers #savinglivesatsea #FloatToLive #RNLIWinterAppeal

RNLI media contacts
For more information, please telephone Roz Ashton, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07900 887423 or [email protected] or Hatti Mellor, National Media Manager on 01273 818012 [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

RNLI Newhaven social media
Twitter: @NewhavenRNLI
Instagram: newhavenrnli
Facebook: @newhaven.lifeboat

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan, Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace and deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop, Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace and Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop, Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace and Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop, Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace and Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Left to right: Mayor of Seaford Sally Markwell, Mayor of Lewes Imogen Makepeace, Mayor of Peacehaven Debbie Donovan and deputy Mayor of Newhaven Kim Bishop

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.