Shantymen on song for Hunstanton RNLI

Sunday 9 March 2025

A Norfolk shanty group sang their hearts out to raise £4,000 for the charity that saves lives at sea. Nelson's Shantymen landed at Hunstanton lifeboat station on Sunday 9 March.

Steve Ireson (centre, left) from Nelson's Shantymen presents a cheque to Dave Cleland at Hunstanton RNLI, with members of the group along with shore and hovercraft crew from the lifeboat station

The 22-strong folk group raise funds for good causes by performing in pubs along the Norfolk coast, along with hosting a shanty festival at their home port the Jolly Sailors, at Brancaster Staithe.

Its leader Steve Ireson said the RNLI was one of three charities to share the £13,000 raised by the group in 2024.

'We do it because we enjoy it,' he said. 'We have a sing, we have a pint, we have a laugh and raise a bit of money while we're at it.

'They're a local crew to us and they do an important job helping to keep the coastline safe.

'And being a shanty crew, it's good to have a connection with the lifesavers.'

The visit brought back memories for singer Tim Richardson, who joined the crew at Hunstanton in 1993 and served on both the station's fast inshore lifeboat and hovercraft for 23 years before hanging up his pager.

'I do miss it,' he said, after looking around the boathouse. 'I loved doing it, it's a fantastic thing to be involved with.

'It's not just the service, it's all the camaraderie in the crew, it's really something else to be a part of.'

RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Gould said the work of the station and more than 200 like it would not be possible without the kindness of those who support the RNLI.

'What they've donated covers the cost of four sets of personal protective equipment for the crew, or two or three service launches,' he said. 'We couldn't do what we do without people like these guys.'

Notes to Editors

Hunstanton is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Norfolk, whose volunteers operate the fast inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and the 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.

Nelson's Shantymen, formed 15 years ago, are named after Norfolk's greatest seafarer Admiral Horatio Nelson, who fell on the deck of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Nelson was born around 20 miles from the lifeboat station at Burnham Thorpe, in 1758.

RNLI Media Contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Members of Nelson's Shantymen on the beach with the crew at Hunstanton RNLI

Hunstanton RNLI crew sing with Nelson's Shantymen at the station's 200th anniversary beer festival in August, 2024

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, X, TikTok 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.

Shantymen on song for Hunstanton RNLI

About the author

Categories