
Sea Shanty group helps raise money for Redcar RNLI
The Saltburn Smugglers sea shanty group has spent this summer raising money for Redcar RNLI and the RNLI’s 200 year birthday celebrations.
They held a series of fundraising ‘Shanties on the shore’ at Saltburn culminating in a sold-out show at Saltburn’s Community Theatre on Saturday 21 September.
The group, which only formed 20 months ago, became involved with Redcar RNLI early in its career and has been holding gigs and raising money to help with saving lives at sea, ever since. Keith Ayling of Saltburn Smugglers said: ‘It was a joy to create this event for the RNLI to celebrate their 200-year anniversary. Our coastline has a rich seafaring heritage and is enjoyed by millions of visitors every year. It is protected and preserved by the amazing crew at Redcar. It was a fantastic celebration to highlight this important work that often goes unseen, we hope to be friends of Redcar RNLI for years to come.’
The evening’s events were opened with a display of photographs taken by local Saltburn photographer Chris Whiles and were soon followed by a rousing set from Marske Fisherman’s Choir, long time supporters of the RNLI.
The event also featured a short film made by Redcar based photographer Michael Sreenan who recently held an exhibition featuring the crew of Redcar RNLI.
During a break in the singing Keith Ayling did a short interview with two members of the Redcar crew, Derek Sutton and Ben Howard, both Helms at the Station. They spoke about why they volunteer, the training they need to do, and the commitment needed by them as volunteers as well as the support given by their families. They also pointed out how fantastic the support given to Redcar RNLI was from the local community.
The evening continued with a set by the junior shanty group who really managed to capture the hearts of the audience. The evening’s main act, the Saltburn Smugglers got the whole crowd singing along with them with a mix of well-known shanties and a few songs of their own. The evening culminated with a rousing finale featuring all three choirs.
Dave Cocks, Chairman at Redcar RNLI said: ’The support given by all the evening’s participants for the RNLI emphasised the importance of the Redcar Lifeboat Station to the local community. I would like to thank the Saltburn Smugglers for organising this series of events and for providing us all with a really joyous occasion.’
Notes to Editors
Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802
Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire
RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Andy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, Redcar RNLI on 07954 435834 or 01642 484491 or email [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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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.