Retiring ladies' golf captain tees off for Hunstanton RNLI

Teresa Hills is standing down as head of the ladies' team at Searles Golf Club in Hunstanton to spend more time on improving her own game.

After finishing the nine-hole course at the popular leisure resort in 27, she presented a cheque to the town's lifeboat station.

'The RNLI is very local to us,' she said. 'We were on the beach one day and my husband Rob had to call them out because two children were in trouble.'

Teresa has served as ladies' captain for six years at the club, whose neatly-manicured greens run along the sea defences towards Heacham.

'It's a beautiful club with a lovely course that's always in good condition,' she said. 'And the members are fantastic.'

She first began playing golf after a surprise present from Rob around 10 years ago.

'I came home one day and there was a set of golf clubs in the lounge,' she said.

'So I said I hope they're not for me. I was rubbish at it to start with but it's addictive and this is such a friendly club.'

As members gathered for the presentation, Hunstanton RNLI treasurer Jackie Merralls thanked them for the donation, which they had raised from a number of events.

'There are 235 lifeboat stations like ours and 95 percent of our crews are all volunteers,' she said.

'They couldn't do what they do without the kindness of people like you.'

Notes to Editors

Volunteers at Hunstanton operate both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

They cover The Wash, a tidal estuary stretching for more than 100 square miles fed by five main rivers, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.

They are one of the region's busiest crews, who launched 34 times in 2024.

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.

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.