Whitstable RNLI Volunters at Abbey Service

Helmsman Dave Parry, Deputy Launching Authority Kellie Gray and RNLI Water Safety Advisor Gerry Skinner joined the service that was attended by representatives from RNLI communities around the UK and Ireland.

Dave Parry said “It was a great day out and what was heartening was that it was not just the crew who where invited, the congregation included fund raisers, donors, station volunteers and support crews without all of whom the RNLI could not operate”.

Gerry Skinner added “It was a remarkable occasion celebrating the work of the RNLI the like of which will not be seen in my lifetime”.

Further activities to celebrate the RNLI 200^th anniversary at Whitstable will include on Sunday 10^th March the station and fundraising branch will take part in the RNLI ‘Connecting our Communities’ relay style event which sees a scroll bearing the RNLI Pledge being passed through RNLI communities and being signed by representatives at each location on its route around the country.

Later in the year the station will be holding open days and we are planning an exhibition of model lifeboats in the boathall in conjunction with our friends at the Heron Model Boat Club from Herne Bay.

For further information about the RNLI’s 200^th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200.

otes to editors

Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station was established in 1963 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is one of 237 lifeboat stations around the shores of the UK and Ireland. The volunteer crews provide a maritime search and rescue service for the Kent coast. They cover the area between the Kingsferry Bridge on the Swale, in the west, around the south-eastern side of Sheppey and along the coast through Whitstable and Herne Bay to Reculver in the east and outwards into the Thames Estuary.

The station is equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat named Lewisco, purchased through a bequest of a Miss Lewis of London who passed away in 2006.

She is what is known as a rigid inflatable inshore lifeboat, the boat’s rigid hull being topped by an inflatable sponson. She carries a crew of four people.

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Davey, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
  07741 012004/ [email protected]m

• Hatti Mellor Regional Communications Manager-SE &London 07724801305/:[email protected]
  

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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.