Angle's Midland Supporters Take To The Seas

... on board the Angle lifeboat!

Angle RNLI mechanic Richard Roach and June Addison, RNLI Senior Area Fundraising Manager welcome Patrick Fuller and Carol and John Forshaw to Angle Lifeboat Station

Image by: RNLI

 

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by ORR

December 14, 2006

A group of visitors who are supporting the RNLI’s appeal to raise £1M for a new Tamar class lifeboat for Angle in Pembrokeshire, met with the station’s RNLI volunteer crew during a trip out on the station’s current Tyne class lifeboat 'Lady Rank'.

The Tamar appeal was launched in Birmingham city centre almost a year ago to celebrate the historical link between inland communities and RNLI lifeboat stations. The generous city has already funded more than 50 lifeboats for the RNLI.

The City of Birmingham Tamar Appeal has already raised £160,000 and a series of events are planned throughout 2007, which will see the funds flowing in to hit the £1M target by 2008.

Patrick Fuller, Vice Chairman of Weston Beamor Ltd in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, and his wife Vivienne have pledged their support by becoming the first substantial donors under the RNLI’s Roll of Honour Scheme. The couple thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the coast and enjoyed meeting with the RNLI volunteers at Angle.

The station visit provided an excellent opportunity for Rotarians from the Midlands to meet with their Pembrokeshire counterparts.

John Quinton, the new District Governor for Rotary District 1060, his wife Chris and their daughter Sarah, braved the wind and rain to take to the seas on board the lifeboat. John has confirmed that the RNLI will be one of the two charities local Rotarians will focus on over the year.

John Forshaw, immediate past President to Rotary Wolverhampton St Georges and his wife Carol were delighted to be offered the opportunity to find out more about the work of the RNLI. John organised a Morriston Orpheus Choir at Wolverhampton Grammar School in March, which raised £3,000 towards the appeal. He is currently busy recruiting teams to take part in fundraising events next year.

The Angle RNLI lifeboat Lady Rank launches with the Birmingham supporters on board.

Image by: RNLI

 

June Addison, RNLI Senior Fundraising Manager commented, "The visit to Angle was a real success and a great opportunity for our inland supporters to see the lifesaving work which goes on on the coast.

"Despite the fact they live so far away from the sea, people from the Midlands have historically been very supportive of the work of RNLI volunteers. The support they have given to the Angle appeal is second to none and we very much hope that support continues to enable us to reach our £1M target."

The RNLI will provide the additional £1.5M for the Tamar class lifeboat, which compared to the current Tyne is bigger - 16 meters as opposed to 14 - and has a faster response time, with a speed of 25, rather than 17 knots. 

The RNLI is a registered charity that continues to rely on voluntary donations and legacies for its income, and receives no UK Government funding.

It provides a 24/7 search and rescue service every day of the year (to 100 nautical miles out from the coast of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland).

The RNLI operates 233 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland, with 4,800 crew of which over 4,500 are volunteers.

The RNLI's annual running costs are around £119M approximately £327,000 per day - and, as a registered charity, the organisation continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for income.