Newhaven RNLI gathers to honour the passing of longtime volunteer
On Friday 19 June, the volunteers at Newhaven RNLI came together to remember and honour Colin Blair, a much-loved volunteer at the station, with the crew lining the route as his cortege passed.
Colin was a volunteer at the Newhaven RNLI shop for 35 years, as well as being a lifeboat visits officer from 1998-2012, and his dedication to the RNLI will be sorely missed by colleagues past and present as well as the many visitors to the shop.
Roger Cohen, launch authority manager at Newhaven lifeboat station, said: ‘Colin enjoyed the routine of volunteering in the shop. Come rain or shine, he always wanted to open up in the hope of raising funds for the RNLI.
‘The station will miss his enthusiasm to serve the charity and local community – he was a truly dedicated volunteer.’
While Gail Frost, the shop manager at Newhaven, said: ‘His knowledge of the RNLI and in particular Newhaven was second to none and he was always willing to share this with whoever wanted to know.
‘He had a lively sense of humour and generous nature – he set an example to everyone with his hard work, stoicism and respect for people. He will be greatly missed.’
Following Colin’s funeral, it was a busy weekend for the volunteers at Newhaven RNLI, as its peak fundraising season. The fundraising team raised over £800 through their presence at Newhaven’s Festival of the Sea on Saturday and Seaford’s Motorfest on Sunday.
Though the biggest event of the year – the Newhaven RNLI Summer Fayre – is still to come, taking place on July 4 at Seahaven Academy School from 10-4pm, with shuttle buses available from Lower Place to the school including a pickup at Gibbon Road.
Newhaven RNLI is looking for new volunteers for the gift shop. If you're able to help and support the station's vital lifesaving work, please apply here:: https://volunteer.rnli.org/opportunities/113629-shop-volunteer-newhaven-shop-volunteer-2026-04-28
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Sam Haddad, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [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.
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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.