Countdown begins for Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

The man at the helm, Lifeboat Week lead Mark Ellis, a member of the lifeboat crew, said: “This is a very special year for our RNLI team. It’s our 200th anniversary and we have planned a very special week of events as part of our celebrations.”

Day one includes a lifeboat welcome display, the opening ceremony and the bathtub race in the evening.

Flying displays play a spectacular part in the week’s events. Sunday August 16th at 11.30am sees the arrival of the RAF’s aerobatic team the Red Arrows, thanks to the generosity of Lyme Regis Town Council. On Wednesday, two privately owned Supermarine Spitfires based at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, near Honiton, are due to arrive at 6pm. And the flying theme continues on Thursday evening at Lyme Regis Football Club on Charmouth Road with a presentation by husband and wife Richard and Sharon Beech from the Hawkridge Birds of Prey Centre.

Every day throughout the week all the favourite attractions include the water or wine tombola, the duck race, and, especially for the youngsters, kite making, pavement art, and the crab fishing and sand castle competitions.

A glossy souvenir 200th anniversary programme is available at outlets around the town including the RNLI shop next to the lifeboat station.

Lifeboat Week organisers are appealing for more volunteers to help with fundraising collections and with car parking arrangements. Anyone willing to assist should contact Oliver Mullen at [email protected].

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Nick Marks, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Lyme Regis on 07568 187582 or email [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.