A Norfolk lifeboat station is set to welcome tens of thousands of visitors as it reopens for another busy summer season.
The boathouse and hovercraft shed at Hunstanton RNLI will be open every day from 10am -2pm until Friday15 May, after which the station will be open until 4pm.
Both will be staffed by members of the station's visits team, who volunteer for shifts on a rota to greet visitors, supporters and anyone interested in finding out more about the work of the charity that saves lives at sea.
Those visiting the station can see its fast inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk, which is ready to launch at minutes' notice with the assistance of the powerful tractor which tows its carriage across the beach.
Next door, they can also see the iconic search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer, which is standing by in its hangar ready for take-off.
And alongside the station, they'll find the well-stocked souvenir shop with shelves packed with everything from preserves and chutneys, clothing and gifts for all ages, along with the RNLI's famed teddy bears.
Kate Craven, the station's visits and water safety lead said her team were expecting another busy summer.
'We had 25,000 visitors come in to talk to our boathouse volunteers in 2025 including 26 schools who brought 1,500 children who all went away with key water safety messages,' she said.
'They get asked all kinds of things about our craft and the work of our crew, ranging from things like how fast can the lifeboat go or how long does it take to launch it, to the kind of 'shouts' we get called out on.
'People also ask us about the different teams at the station like the visits volunteers, the water safety and outreach teams, the souvenir shop and the Hunstanton and West Norfolk RNLI Guild which raises money for us.
'A lot of them are surprised at all the work that goes on behind the scenes and how many people are involved to make sure we're there 24/7, 365 days a year to assist anyone who finds themselves in difficulty or danger around the coast we cover.'
Notes to editors
Volunteers at Hunstanton RNLI operate both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and the search and rescue hovercraft
Hunstanton Flyer from their base on Sea Lane.
They cover The Wash, a coastal estuary of more than 200 square miles fed by four main rivers along with parts of the North Norfolk coast.
Crew members at the busy station are on call 24/7, 365 days a year; while their work is supported by its visits, shop and outreach teams, along with the Hunstanton and West Norfolk RNLI Lifeboat Guild which raises funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.
RNLI media contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office 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.
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.
