Whitstable RNLI Raises Over £1,750 at Annual Christmas Tree Chipping Event
The sweet smell of pine wafted through the cold air when the Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station held its 5th consecutive Christmas Tree Chipping fundraising event, raising vital funds to support the station’s lifesaving work on Sunday.
Chair of Fundraising Pete Fenton said “Despite freezing temperatures, with the thermometer barely reaching 1°C and wind chill making it feel closer to -5°C, the day was blessed with clear blue skies and sunshine. From 9:00am to 2:00pm, RNLI crew members and volunteers collected Christmas trees and donations from the local community”.
“A total of 217 trees were chipped on the day, raising an impressive £1,750.28. These funds will go directly towards helping keep Whitstable RNLI’s volunteer crew saving lives at sea”.
“Whitstable RNLI would like to extend sincere thanks to A Bird Ltd Tree Surgeons for their continued support, generously providing their professional services free of charge for the 5th year running”.
“Special thanks also go to the 25 RNLI crew members and shop staff who gave up their Sunday to support the event, as well as to the 217 Whitstable families who braved the cold to drop off their trees. The turnout was a fantastic demonstration of community spirit and support for the RNLI.
Events like this truly bring the community together, and Whitstable RNLI is incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success”.
Alex Bird of A Bird Ltd said “ This was the 5th time we have taken part inb the tree chipping for Whitstable RNLI and it is worth pointing out that leaving Christmas trees in the street is now classed as fly tipping and so disposing of them in this way is an excellent way of supporting local charities and as such people who still wish to dispose of their trees can take them to Macknade in Faversham next weekend between 10 and 4.00pm on Saturday and Sunday where we will be 'chipping' in aid of the Pilgrims Hospices”.
Notes to editors
Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.
The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.
She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.
RNLI media contacts
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Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
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Julie Rainey - Regional Communications Lead : 07827 358256
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Jess Curtis, Regional Communications Manager. Mob: 07483 488243| Email: Jessica_curtis@rnli
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For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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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