Belfairs Lodge members raise £1,100 for Southend-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboat
The members of Belfairs Masonic Lodge raise £1,100 for Southend-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboat with a raffle during the Ladies Festival held at The Lawn in Rochford Essex on 02 March 2024.
Saturday 23 March, members of Belfairs Lodge were invited for a tour of Southend-on-Sea RNLI Lifeboat station. The President and President's Lady of the Lodge Martyn and Beryl Fennell, Lodge members Danny and Shirley Lowry were welcomed by Southend RNLI volunteers. The Belfairs Masonic Lodge members presented a cheque for £1,100 along with a specially handmade RNLI gavel hammer crafted by Danny Lowry to Southend-on-Sea RNLI volunteers.
Following some introductions, presentations and chats. In appreciation of the donation, a comprehensive tour and history of Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station was given to the four guests, and a few memorable shouts recalled by the lifesaving volunteers.
The Freemasons have donated a considerable amount in support of the RNLI, funds raised at events and meetings. All donations help the charity to continue saving lives at sea. Southend-on-Sea RNLI thank Belfairs Masonic Lodge for their generous donation.
Martyn Fennell said: ‘The money was raised as the result of the raffle held at Belfairs Masonic Lodge No.4730 Ladies Festival at The Lawn, Rochford on Saturday 2nd March 2024 where my wife and I (President and President's Lady) had designated the local RNLI as our chosen charity. We enjoyed a very memorable, and educational tour of the RNLI lifeboat station, thanks to the RNLI volunteers Tony and Nigel’.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution relies entirely on voluntary public donations. Without the generous public donations and gifts in wills, it would not be possible for the RNLI to continue saving lives at sea.
For Southend-on-Sea RNLI station tours and visits, contact: [email protected]
Notes to editors
- Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station has been operating since 1879. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://southendlifeboat.org/
- All of the over 100 personnel at Southend-on-Sea Lifeboat are volunteers.
RNLI media contacts
- For more information please contact: Nigel Gilchrist, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Southend-on-Sea RNLI, 07765875300 or [email protected],
- Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
- Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead - South East, on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.
RNLI at 200
On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.
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.