Community powers Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI lifesavers at summer fundraiser

The popular fundraising event was held at Hoylake RNLI lifeboat station and brought together RNLI volunteers, emergency service partners, and local organisations and businesses for a day of family fun, community spirit and lifesaving education.

Coinciding with World Drowning Prevention Day, the event provided an important opportunity for volunteers to share the RNLI's vital water safety advice as the summer holidays began, including through the charity's Float to Live campaign.

Visitors had the chance to meet the Hoylake and West Kirby volunteer lifeboat crews, explore the lifeboats, hovercraft and launch vehicles, and learn more about the RNLI's lifesaving work. A range of RNLI gifts souvenirs were on sale alongside stalls and activities, including a chance to soak brave RNLI volunteers in the stocks.

The event was supported by the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team, who displayed their rescue vehicles and equipment, while Hoylake & West Kirby Sea Cadets showcased the opportunities they offer young people both on and off the water. Friends of Birkenhead Kennels shared information about their work rehoming stray and unwanted dogs, while a range of classic cars were on display. Coffee Dream and the Seafood Shack kept visitors refreshed with a range of hot food and drinks, with homemade cakes on sale in the boathouse.

The RNLI's face-to-face team spoke with visitors about supporting the charity through regular giving, with many people choosing to sign up and help ensure volunteer crews can continue launching to the rescue.

The event provided a fitting opportunity to recognise one of the stations’ longest-serving volunteers. John Davies was presented with the RNLI's Long Service Medal to mark 30 years of volunteering with the lifesaving charity. As Secretary of the Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat Management Group, for the past three decades John has supported the stations' volunteer teams while also giving his time in the souvenir shop and as an active fundraiser. He received the medal from Management Group Chair John Curry in front of fellow volunteers and visitors, celebrating his outstanding dedication to the RNLI.

Carron Jones, Chair of the Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Fundraising Branch, said:

‘Our Meet & Greet Day is one of the highlights of our calendar because it gives us the chance to welcome our community, showcase the work of our volunteers, and put the fun into fundraising. To have raised almost £3,500, with more still to come, is a fantastic achievement and only possible because of the incredible generosity of everyone who came along, volunteered, donated prizes, baked cakes or supported us on the day. We can't thank our amazing community enough for supporting their local RNLI crews.’

Howie Owen, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain, said:

‘It was fantastic to see so many people come along to support the stations and help us save lives through their kind donations. The event taking place on World Drowning Prevention Day gave us a valuable opportunity to share key water safety advice that will keep people safe this summer. I'd also like to congratulate John Davies on receiving his Long Service Medal. His dedication as an RNLI volunteer over the past three decades has been outstanding and this recognition was thoroughly deserved.’

Richard Diamond, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said;

‘A huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported this year's Meet & Greet Day. It's always a great opportunity for us to meet and chat with the people who support us all year round and show them a little more about the work our local RNLI volunteers here in Hoylake and West Kirby carry out.’

‘Whether people came to look around the lifeboats, chat to the crew or just enjoy the day, every donation and every conversation helps us continue our lifesaving work. On behalf of the entire crew, thank you.’

In 2025, lifeboats around the UK and Ireland launched over 9,000 times and helped 8,290 people, making it the sixth-busiest year in the charity’s history. A total of 272 lives were saved. But as a charity, the RNLI relies on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work, which last year cost a total of £196.9 million.

Anyone who was unable to attend but would still like to support Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI can donate online at fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Hoylake

Notes to editors

Hoylake Lifeboat Station was founded in 1803 and is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the UK. It operates the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft Hurley Spirit.

West Kirby Lifeboat station was founded in 1966 and operates the inshore IB1 lifeboat Leonard Pownall. It is the only lifeboat station in the RNLI to operate the Hagglund BV206 all-terrain launch vehicle. This year the station celebrated 60 years of saving lives at sea.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.