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Whitstable RNLI was buzzing!

Lifeboats News Release

There were over 750 visitors to Whitstable RNLI when the station held a hugely successful open day on Bank Holiday Monday.

Esme Piplica-Godden, nine takes the helm during the Whitstable RNLI open day on Monday.

RNLI/Chris Davey

Esme Piplica-Godden, nine takes the helm during the Whitstable RNLI open day on Monday.
The station’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Lewisco and its launching tractor and carriage was on display on the pad outside the boathouse and was popular with many children and, no doubt their parents eager to clamber aboard, many of whom dressed up in the stations child sized lifejackets and helmets to let rip their imagination as to crewing a lifeboat.

Meanwhile in the boat hall there was a display of the station’s history from its founding in 1963, whilst the ‘knot training’ and ‘Float to Live’ boards also proved popular with visitors.

Elsewhere around the hall, Education Officers David Hayward and Sue Evans were kept busy handing out RNLI flags, colouring sheets and other RNLI educational merchandise whilst Whitstable Water Safety Advisor Rachel Goff and her Kent area counterpart Gerry Skinner kept visitors up to speed with water safety advice.

Outside the station the crew ran a very successful barbeque and the Herne Bay Coastguard Search and Rescue Team were on hand to support the event.

Whitstable RNLI’s Kellie Gray said “We had a splendid day with £658 made in collections and donations and a further £180 from the barbeque. During the day there was a very nice touch a young girl called Chloe-Anne left a bag of treats as a thank you for the crew which we all thought was a wonderful gesture to make the day even more special”

Our thanks go to all our visitors and supporters old and new who came by the station and to our own volunteers, crew, shore crew education and water safety officers and advisors and to the souvenir shop team who made the day possible".

RNLI media contacts

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




Esme, five and her sister Isabella Mendes, nine hear about the workings of the lifeboat from crewmember Sam Turner during the Whitstable RNLI open day on Monday.

RNLI/Chris Davey

Esme, five and her sister Isabella Mendes, nine hear about the workings of the lifeboat from crewmember Sam Turner during the Whitstable RNLI open day on Monday.
Ross, Cameron (two)and Marina Hardy from Hertfordshire take a look at one of the displays during the open day at Whitstable RNLI on bank holiday Monday.

RNLI/Chris Davey

Ross, Cameron (two)and Marina Hardy from Hertfordshire take a look at one of the displays during the open day at Whitstable RNLI on bank holiday Monday.
The scene outside the boathall during the open day at Whitstable RNLI on bank holiday Monday

RNLI/Chris Davey

The scene outside the boathall during the open day at Whitstable RNLI on bank holiday Monday
Isla Brannan, two waves the flag for the RNLI during the open day at Whitstable lifeboat station on bank holiday Monday

RNLI/Chris Davey

Isla Brannan, two waves the flag for the RNLI during the open day at Whitstable lifeboat station on bank holiday Monday

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.

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