Whitby RNLI Stage Annual Flag Weekend

Friday, 28 July 2023 06:00

By Matthew Pells

L-R: RNLI crew members Richard Dowson, Anthony Gibbon, Keith Attridge, Howard Fields and Andy Brighton prepare for the weekend's fundraiser.

Whitby's Lifeboat crew are making final preparations for their annual Flag Weekend which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The fundraising event will take place on Dock End on both days from 10am until 4pm and is expected to include a demonstration at sea on Sunday.

Station Mechanic - Richard Dowson - says it's a big weekend for the volunteer crew.

Whitby's lifeboats both old and new will be on show this weekend as part of the event which will also include the usual favourites such as a tombola, book stall and dog bandana stall, as well as the chance to meet the local coastguard crew.

The Whitby Lifeboat volunteers will perform a demonstration at sea on Sunday subject to conditions, with detials being published on social media closer to the time.

There will also be the chance for local boat owners and anyone with a lifejacket to get a free lifejacket clinic at the event, specially trained RNLI volunteers will be staging Lifejacket Clinics to show people how to maintain their lifejacket to keep it fully functioning. They'll demonstrate how to check it for wear and tear and do simple maintenance tasks like replacing gas bottles and firing heads. At one recent clinic, 80% of participants found faults when checking their lifejackets, and some found serious defects.

The event is also a chance for local people to learn more about the workings of the RNLI int eh town and meet the volunteer crew.

Station Mechanic - Richard Dowson - says it's their biggest fundraising event of the year.

Whitby RNLI Coxswain Howard Fields said:

'We always look forward to the flag weekend as it is a chance to meet and thank our supporters in person. We look forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new ones too.'

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