It has been a jam-packed weekend for volunteers at Whitby RNLI with celebrations and a shout.
Friday saw two of the station's volunteers, Ally and Jamie, as well as station chairman Mike head to Wakefield for the 200th anniversary celebrations.
Volunteer crew member Ally Brisby said:
‘We had a fantastic evening at Wakefield Cathedral celebrating the bicentenary of the RNLI. It was a true commemoration of our past, celebration of the present and inspiration for the future.
We had musical interludes from Wakefield Grammar School foundation string quartet and Brass Quintet, vocal arrangements from acappella group Ensemble Pro Victoria and divine performances by Wakefield Cathedral Choir.’
Meanwhile the crew of the William Riley old rowing boat were making their way down to the south coast in Poole to take part in the Poole Lifeboat Festival along with some of Whitby’s volunteer crew who travelled down to support them.
Barry Brown, Whitby RNLI’s station manager and coxswain of the William Riley said:
‘We were honoured to be invited to the RNLI headquarters in the Poole to take part in this celebration of the RNLI’s heritage. The parade of sail was a real highlight and it was moving to see both modern and historic lifeboats take to the water in Poole harbour.
Over 50 lifeboats took part including The ex Whitby lifeboat The William Riley one of the oldest boats there built in 1909
We are very grateful that the support of the charity over the last 200 years has meant that our crew are in the most up-to-date technology, crafted right here in Poole made especially for the needs of the RNLI enabling them to stay safe as they save lives at sea.’
Back in Whitby the RNLI volunteers were busy showing members of the public around the lifeboat and station as part of the town’s Fish and Ships festival.
Station coxswain Howard Fields said:
‘I would like to thank the crew for giving up their time this weekend to welcome members of the public to the station, the comments and feedback that have followed are testament to their efforts and show how passionate our volunteers are about the RNLI and Saving Lives as Sea.
We are very proud of our station, and it is a real pleasure to be able to open our doors and welcome our family of supporters - thank you to all who visited.’
As the weekend drew to a close the crew were the called out on a shout.
Launch Authority Stephen Upright said:
‘The all weather lifeboat was tasked to assist a commercial angling boat which had suffered mechanical failure. The boat was located two miles north of the harbour entrance and was towed in and berthed on the fish quay.
A happy ending to a busy weekend.’
Comments
Add a comment