Model Lifeboats Feature at Whitstable RNLI

The occasion however was a fleet of vessels gathered together by the Herne Bay based Heron Model Boat Club who have been regular supporters of Whitstable RNLI for well over 15-years if not much longer.

Robin Graham, Chairman of the Heron Model Boat Club said "Over the years our model boat shows in the Whitstable RNLI boathouse have always been popular attractions and today we had 25 model boars on display”.

“Our club has 95 members many of whom build their craft in traditional model ship building methods or make use of kits but this year we have on show vessels built using 3D printing and I am pleased that our club is embracing modern methods to produce our models”.

“We had about 800 people through the door yesterday. The winner of the best boat in show was Pirate ship Skullduggery built by Keith Payne”.

The winner of the prize of the raffle a radio controlled model Mercedes F1 car will be drawn on Saturday between 10am and 12am, and the winning name will be placed on the Heron Model Boat Club Facebook page the same day”.

“It was a very enjoyable day had by all, and the Heron Model Boat Club would like to thank the Whitstable lifeboat Station for the use of the boat house for the whole day”

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

Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]

Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [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.

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.