Walmer RNLI benefits from two generous donations

Peter, Julie and Garry from the Deal Chamber of Trade visited the station on Sunday 14 January to present a cheque for £120, a contribution for chipping Christmas trees collected from along Deal High Street, following the station’s fundraiser the previous week. As always, we would like to thank the Chamber of Trade and the people of Deal, Walmer and the surrounding area for their continued support.

Despite his young age, six-year-old Thomas Percival has been a long-time supporter of Walmer lifeboat. On Sunday morning, he attended the station with his mum Sarah, dad Michael and his younger sister Mollie to receive a Certificate of Appreciation, recognising his outstanding achievement and generous donation of £222.90. Accompanied by his mum, Thomas undertook his own version of the RNLI’s Reindeer Run throughout December in the cold, dark and rain, clocking up 25 miles in total and culminating in a 5K Park Run along Deal seafront.

He met the crew of the station's D Class lifeboat Duggie Rodbard II, Steve, Dan and Max who had just returned from their regular Sunday exercise. Thomas says his ambition is to volunteer at Walmer when he reaches 18. We look forward to welcoming him and thank him for his donation.

Contributions such as these help ensure our lifeboats are not neglected. They take a battering at sea and need regular maintenance to keep them reliable, capable and safe.

Photo 1 Walmer volunteers with members of the Deal Chamber of Trade

Photo 2 Young supporter Thomas Percival with Walmer crew

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.