Every cloud has a silver lining

The Allhallows Yacht Club Ltd, based on the Grain Peninsula within the Allhallows Leisure Park had been unable to negotiate a new lease with the owners and the sad decision was taken to wind down the club which was established on the same site in 1964.

The AYC Ltd company memorandum and articles stated that should the club be closed down for any reason then any remaining funds were to be donated to a local boating related charity.

Following a unanimous decision by the club members it was decided that the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat Station would be the benefactor due its close proximity (by sea) to Allhallows and the fact that over the years the Sheerness RNLI volunteers have helped out AYC club members on a number of occasions when they found themselves in difficulties.

Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat Station Coxswain/Mechanic Paul Jarvis along with his predecessor Robin Castle and Sheerness lifeboat station Operations Manager Nigel Budden met representatives of the club on Saturday 7 October at Lower Stoke on the Isle of Grain and were astounded when Andrew Vincent (AYC President) and Mrs Cheryl Frame, on behalf of her late husband Barry Frame (AYC Commodore) presented the huge cheque to them.

Also present were Claire Vincent (AYC President), Nigel Godden (Rear Commodore) and other long-standing members including Mrs Anne Letch who joined the AYC with her husband in 1968.

Mr Vincent said: ‘Whilst we are very pleased to be able to benefit such a worthwhile institution as the RNLI it was with great sadness that this was the final act of Allhallows Yacht Club’.

On behalf of all the crew and volunteers of the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain Paul thanked all those present for their generosity but also offered commiserations for their loss.

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.

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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.