Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat fund-raisers report boost in results for 2024
Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat fund-raisers report boost in results for 2024
Lifeboats News Release
Members of the group who play a major role in fund-raising for the RNLI in Lyme Regis were told of a ‘superbly successful year’ at their annual meeting on Wednesday evening (2 April).
Chairman of the Lyme Regis and Charmouth Lifeboat Supporters Ken Lavery said that volunteers who run the RNLI gift shop and organise many events, particularly lifeboat week, had pulled together to achieve huge fund-raising results.
Treasurer Clare Evans reported a final fund-raising figure for last year of £126,271, a total boosted by just under £35,000 from lifeboat week. She said the group could be ‘very proud’ of results which also included £30,000 in contributions to collection boxes distributed throughout the Lyme Regis area.
Manager of the gift shop next to the lifeboat station Krys Lavery
reported a ‘staggering’ result in receipts of £192,000 making the
Lyme Regis outlet the top RNLI shop in the south-west. She said: ‘We are open every day, except Christmas Day, and customers tell us we have a lovely, welcoming and bright shop. It’s a team effort by all our volunteers.’
Lifeboat Operations Manager Mark Colley said that his volunteer crew had answered 34 calls for help last year and the rescue of a sailor whose yacht was in danger, dragging its anchor, was due to feature in the BBC series Saving Lives at Sea. He praised the loyalty of the crew and said: ‘When crew members join us in Lyme they stay in Lyme.’
Three volunteer members of the Lyme Regis Water Safety Education team gave a talk on their role as a group whose aim is to advise those who may be at risk in the waters around the resort. Nick Marks, Ian Marshall and Karl Pearce engage with many groups including sailing clubs, rowers, kayakers, paddleboarders, swimmers and schoolchildren.
The meeting paid tribute to two stalwart fund-raisers who died
recently, treasurer Brian Cursley and Phillip Sankey both of whom volunteered for many years.
An appeal was made for anyone who would like to volunteer to help in the gift shop or during lifeboat week which this year starts on 26 July. The contact is membership secretary Oliver Mullen at [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.
