Redcar RNLI volunteers join RNLI 200th year thanksgiving service at York Minster

Chairman of Redcar RNLI, Dave Cocks, together with crewmembers Steve Atkinson and Adam Enderwick helped greet over 800 volunteer fundraisers, sea safety advisers, lifeboat crew members and lifeguards who had travelled to York.

At the beginning of the service the Redcar volunteers together, with representatives from Scarborough RNLI, were introduced to His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI.

Dave Cocks said: ‘It was an honour to be introduced to His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. He has been the President of the RNLI for many years and has a keen interest in the work of all its volunteers.’

Redcar RNLI volunteer crewmember Adam Enderwick, said: ‘The service not only celebrated the last 200 years of the RNLI, it also commemorated the volunteers who had paid the ultimate sacrifice while trying to save the lives of others.’

Steve Atkinson, said: ‘We met people from all parts of the RNLI. It was particularly interesting to meet fundraisers, many from parts of the country miles away from the sea. But as a crewmember I know that without their hard work raising the funds we need, our lifeboats can’t launch. Today was as much a celebration of their efforts as it was marking the work of the volunteer lifeboat crews.’

Notes to Editors

Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802

Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Andy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, Redcar RNLI on 07954 435834 or 01642 484491 or email [email protected]

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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