Success and a shout for Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Day!
Flocks of locals and holiday makers headed to Newquay Harbour on Saturday 29 July to enjoy the frivolities at Newquay RNLI’s annual Lifeboat Day.
There was a dramatic start to the parade by Kernow Pipes and Drums as the bagpipes sounded to begin the march through the town, heading to Newquay’s historic harbour. Margaret North, Mayor of Newquay joined the parade by riding in a replica of Newquay’s first ever lifeboat, The Joshua along with the charity’s mascot Stormy Stan and volunteer Carey Thomas, one of the main organisers of the day.
Hordes of supporters also followed The Joshua, which was towed through very busy streets by Matt King, who is volunteer boat crew and tractor driver and arrived at the harbour to signal the official start of the event.
This year saw a change to the fundraising event, as the harbour car park was closed and a pop-up market was set up bringing food, drink, a carousel, face painters, a candy floss stall, handmade jewellery and the very popular Teddy Tombola. There was a stream of visitors and an exciting buzz in the air as Radio Newquay provided a live broadcast and commentary throughout the day.
Volunteer RNLI crew from Padstow Lifeboat Station brought their all weather Tamar class lifeboat along, The Spirit of Padstow and a huge queue formed very quickly for onboard tours.
However, the tours came to an abrupt pause when Padstow pagers wailed to alert the crew to a tasking at Porthcothan where a mass rescue was in progress by local RNLI lifeguards.
Seconds later the Newquay volunteers pagers also rang and visitors were treated to real life action as boat crew dashed up the quay to board the Newquay lifeboats. Thankfully a stand down order was received just as Newquay's Atlantic 85 crew had arrived. It was confirmed there were no casualties in the water and all were safe on land. All three lifeboats were able to return to Newquay harbour to begin demonstrations in the bay.
Spectators were treated to ‘man over board’ scenarios by each lifeboat crew, and a demonstration by colleagues from Newquay RNLI Lifeguards Newquay.
Everyone watching appeared to enjoy the display and congratulated the crew with a rapturous round of applause.
The final event of the day was the local pilot gig race, the Walker Cup with a crew of RNLI personnel racing against a crew from Newquay Rowing Club. A broken pin for Newquay at the beginning of the race meant that the rowing club crew made a gain, however after losing out by seconds last year, the RNLI crew were determined to get a win and following a very tough and close race, the cup was there’s once more.
Newquay Rowing Club Singers closed the event, giving renditions of some well known songs and shanties.
Gareth Horner, Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘Everyone at our station, crew and fundraisers, are over the moon at how successful this years event was and it’s safe to say all the hard work that they put in to organise this event has well and truly paid off. The support we get from the public is what enables our volunteer crew to go to sea and save lives. We rely on donations and legacies, and we are delighted to say that this years lifeboat day has raised in excess of £5,659 with some monies still to come in, this sum is made up from stallholders, the collection buckets on the day and our lifeboat retail shop – a truly successful and thoroughly
enjoyable day all round.
We cannot thank everyone enough for coming along and enjoying the day with us and donating to the RNLI charity in such difficult times!’
We cannot thank everyone enough for coming along and enjoying the day with us and donating to the RNLI charity in such difficult times!’
Special thanks go to:
Padstow Lifeboat Crew
RNLI Lifeguards Newquay
Cafe Cloud
Grounded Coffee Co
Hannah Singleton - HLS Design
Sarah Hain - Beach Hut 17
The Boathouse - Street Food on the Beach
Newquay Rowing Club Singers
Newquay Rowing Club
Jean and Thomas – Candy Floss and sweets
Linda and Paul – Carousel
Marie Lepage - Face painter
Jolie Munley and Ian Pengelly - Stormy Stan
RNLI Face to Face Team
RNLI Water Safety Team
Rotary Club of Newquay
Newquay Lions Club
Radio Newquay
Newquay RNLI Fundraising Team for Teddy Tombola, cakes, tombola, raffle, drinks, jigsaws and book stalls.
RNLI Shop volunteers
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.