Ground Control raises £50,000 for the RNLI in memory of colleague Simon Wiggins
Ground Control proudly raised over £50,000 for RNLI, following a year-long campaign in memory of their much-loved colleague Simon Wiggins. Simon’s family, colleagues from Ground Control and members of the Wells RNLI crew gathered at the lifeboat station for a special plaque unveiling.
The external maintenance company and biodiversity expert, which named the RNLI as its charity of the year at Simon’s request, launched a wave of fundraising activities across the UK in a heartfelt tribute to Simon, who sadly died last year. From bake sales and sponsored silences to ice bucket challenges, team hikes of various distances that ended at official RNLI lifeboats stations to office-wide charity events. Employees across all teams came together to honour a man remembered for his love of the outdoors and deep admiration for the RNLI.
Simon chose the RNLI while in hospice care, inspired by the charity’s lifesaving work and his many treasured seaside holidays with his sons, Lewis and Lucas. As a lasting tribute not only was the plaque unveiled at Wells lifeboat station, but Ground Control also donated to Exmouth’s Launch a Memory lifeboat. The decals on the side of the Exmouth RNLI Shannon-class lifeboat now proudly bears the names of Simon and his sons Lewis and Lucas.
Katherine Smith of Ground Control said: ‘When our colleague Simon sadly passed away last year, we knew we wanted to honour his memory in a meaningful way and reflecting his love of the sea and deep respect for the RNLI’s lifesaving mission. Over the past year, it has been both an honour and a privilege to support the RNLI not just through fundraising, but by coming together as a Maintenance division to do good. It has brought us closer together as a team and shown how powerful it can be when business and community unite, and a huge thank you must go to our business for providing matched funding to help us reach such an amazing total.’
Simon’s family added: ‘Simon always loved the outdoors camping, hiking, coastal walks, and beach days with Lewis and Lucas were among his greatest joys. He was a long-time supporter of the RNLI and trusted that they would always be there for those in trouble at sea. We are so proud that he chose the RNLI and so grateful to Ground Control, especially Katherine and Sara Wilcox at the RNLI, for the dedication, compassion, and creativity they have shown throughout this campaign. The updates have kept us smiling, and the plaque at Wells means the world.’
Events were held at Ground Control offices and sites across the country, including their environmental recovery site and habitat bank at Wildfell, which also hosted a RNLI Wills and Trusts information event as part of the collaboration. Events ranged from bungee jumps, team walks ending at Lifeboat stations, hair dye challenges, car washes, runs, swims, rows and even dressing as a rat.
Chris Hardy, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Wells RNLI, said: 'On behalf of everyone at the RNLI, I want to say a sincere thank you to the Ground Control team for their incredible support over the past year. It’s been truly moving to see the energy, creativity and dedication they’ve poured into their fundraising in memory of Simon Wiggins.
The money raised will help ensure our volunteer crews can continue to launch to those in need, whatever the weather, and knowing Simon’s name now sails on one of our Shannon-class lifeboats is a deeply fitting tribute. His legacy will continue to save lives at sea and that’s something very special.'
The £50,000 raised by Ground Control has gone directly to support the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews, lifeguards, and community safety teams, helping the charity continue its mission of saving lives at sea. This is in addition to 40 days of volunteering completed by Ground Control employees alongside the fundraising campaign.
Notes to Editor The campaign involved dozens of Ground Control teams and hundreds of employees nationwide. Highlights included:
- A 150km challenge completed individually by twenty staff members spread across the UK.
- A 10-mile team walk to Burnham-on-Crouch RNLI lifeboat station.
- A 126-mile indoor cycle challenge replicating the distance to Southend RNLI
- Car washes, quiz nights, bingo sessions, sponsored silences and more at Ground Control HQ
- A solo 42-mile walk to Selsey RNLI
- A 75-mile cycling challenge.
- A sponsored run equivalent to the distance of the M25
- Ground Control has also volunteered 40 man days across the year at events including the Newbiggen beach clean, South West GWR train station collections, Holy Island information events, Peterborough MSA collections and York Mayday appeals
- Ground Control is a UK-based external maintenance and biodiversity company operating across infrastructure, commercial and environmental sectors.
- The Exmouth Shannon-class lifeboat is part of the RNLI’s modern fleet and designed for all-weather rescue operations.
RNLI Media contacts Jess Curtis, RNLI and Regional Engagements North and East, Lifeboat Press Officer at Wells: Tel 07483488243 Email: [email protected] contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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