Local community help chip in for Walmer RNLI fundraiser

From small beginnings in 2020 when the fundraiser, organised then by Boathouse Manager Les Coe and former crew member Stee Withers chipped 120 trees, the event has grown year on year. Sponsored by local businessman Tom Ledger’s Leaf Tree Services, 704 tree were chipped over the course of the day, beating the previous year’s total. Four vanloads of chippings were collected which will be used as biofuel, a renewable source of energy. Money is still being counted by the station’s Treasurer, but funds raised will easily eclipse the £2,830 raised by the event last year.

As in previous years, posters, flyers and banners for the event, advertised as ‘Recycle your tree to help save a life at sea’ were distributed to local businesses and local garden centres selling Christmas trees. A fenced compound was set up next to the station on Walmer Green on Boxing Day to enable local residents to drop off their trees. Donations were collected by cash and on a Just Giving page.

As a charity, the RNLI relies heavily on donations and Walmer lifeboat would like to thank everyone involved with the event – Mark Chittenden from Diamond Removals for his help with tree collections, Peter Varrall from Deal Chamber of Trade and Keeper’s Cottages for their tree donations, Deal Radio for advertising the event, local businesses for displaying our posters and distributing flyers, crew members for making collections with their own vehicles and helping out on the day and, as always the residents of Walmer, Deal and the surrounding area for their continued support.

Operations Manager Denis Brophy said: ‘I was really impressed yesterday how many of you turned up to help. I was thinking whilst witnessing the great banter and team building, what a brilliant day we were having. As ever the event could not go ahead without Tom and his team at Leaf Tree Services. We are indebted to them for their continued support for one of our major fundraising events of the year. Donations such as those received for this event go towards training crew so that they have the skills to keep themselves and others safe. It helps transform a willing lifeboat volunteer into a competent lifesaver.’

He added that special thanks must go to Walmer Helm Dan Sinclair who has worked tirelessly throughout December organising collections, often replying to text messages until late at night, displaying banners, distributing posters and setting up the compound and then going out in his van with other crew members to make collections.

Plans are in place already for next year, with a provisional date of Sunday 5 January 2025. Confirmation of these dates to follow.

Photo 1 Tree compound before the event

Photo 2 Tree chipping in progress

Photo 3 Sponsor Tom Ledger’s Leaf Tree Services

Photo 4 Mark Chittenden and Diamond Removals

Photo 4 Empty compound after the event

Photo 6 Tree counter

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
• Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]
• Hatti Mellor, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East). From end of January 2024
• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [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.

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.