Family of Newquay RNLI supporter visit station after gift in his memory
Family of Newquay RNLI supporter visit station after gift in his memory
Lifeboats News Release
The family of a RNLI supporter who holidayed in Newquay for more than four decades visited the lifeboat station earlier this month to mark their latest donation to the charity in his memory, after raising a total of £5733 since he passed away in 2019.
Geoff Coles from Salford, Greater Manchester died in April 2019 and after collecting donations at his funeral, his family have since organised two raffles every year, at Easter and on his birthday on 11 December, to raise money for Newquay RNLI. This year's birthday raffle raised a further £393, and Kirsty Egerton who won the raffle kindly donated the festive prizes to Newquay RNLI crew.
On what would have been Geoff's 84th birthday, his wife Carol Coles and two daughters Ali Beckman & Stacey Cregeen presented the prizes from his latest birthday raffle to Newquay RNLI, gratefully received by shore crew volunteers Ann-Marie Dale and Carey Thomas, on behalf of the station.
Geoff's daughter Ali Beckman said: 'Dad holidayed in Newquay for over 40 years and had great respect for the lifeboat crew, after spending a lot of time at the harbour watching them in action. He would have been so proud of these donations and as a family, we are thrilled that our support will help Newquay's RNLI volunteers continue their work saving lives at sea'.
Ann-Marie Dale, Newquay RNLI shore crew volunteer and lifeboat press officer said: ‘As a crew, we are so grateful for the loyal support of people like Geoff's family & friends. As always, Newquay RNLI have remained on call throughout Christmas and will do the same into the New Year but we couldn't do what we do without their generosity’.
Notes to editors
Attached picture: On what would have been Geoff's 84th birthday, his wife Carol Coles and two daughters Ali Beckman & Stacey Cregeen present the prizes from his latest birthday raffle to Newquay RNLI, gratefully received by shore crew volunteers Ann-Marie Dale (left) and Carey Thomas, on behalf of the station. Credit: Newquay RNLI.
Newquay lifeboat station opened in 1860 and today’s RNLI volunteers operate two inshore lifeboats from Newquay Harbour and are on call 24-hours-a-day to save lives at sea.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Andy Hobkinson, Newquay RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or 07880 507464 or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager at [email protected] or 07786 668847 or contact the RNLI Press Office (24 hours) on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 142,700 lives.
