The Making of ‘Martin’
The Appledore Community Crafters excel themselves in celebrating 200 Years of the Appledore RNLI.
With the RNLI 200th this year and Appledore Lifeboat Station’s 200th anniversary in 2025, the ‘Appledore Community Crafters’ eagerly, and with pure determination, took on the challenge of creating a full-size lifeboat person.
To quote Sam Jenkins, crew member Appledore RNLI who worked very closely with the Appledore Community Crafters: ‘During the history of Appledore RNLI a name that has been repeated through the years is the name ‘Cox’.
‘There was only ever one option for this amazing piece of craftsmanship to be based on, our current coxswain, mentor and community legend Martin Cox, who will have reached an incredible 45 years’ service for Appledore on our own stations 200th anniversary in 2025.
‘Martin follows in his father’s footsteps, Des Cox, who served for 36 years, and in turn his own son Matthew, has also volunteered for the past 14 years. Not forgetting Martin’s Grandad Charlie ‘Wobbles’ Cox, who was involved in rescues previously, but not on record, as village members would often volunteer when the need for a rescue arose.
‘The recorded service time for three generations of the Cox family alone is an incredible 96 years, a big thank you to their service and their families involved for their bravery and outstanding commitment to our community and the RNLI’.
Put in place on Tuesday 30 April outside the Appledore St Mary’s Church Hall, in appropriately wet and windy weather, ‘Martin Cox’ will remain in place this year to celebrate RNLI 200 and through into Appledore RNLI 200.
Appledore Lifeboat Station would like to thank the Appledore Community Crafters all for their time and efforts in making this artwork which will help to raise funds to go towards the operational running costs of their station.
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.