On the 24th January 1863 a brand new lifeboat named ‘Rescue’ funded by the RNLI, 42 foot long and built of iron with a tubular construction was inaugurated at a ceremony in Liverpool watched by a gathering of 50,000. The lifeboat was launched and showed her paces for the cheering crowds before being towed to her new station at New Brighton.
As the first event to celebrate our 150 years the volunteers of the station organised a Dinner Dance at the Leasowe Castle Hotel attended by 140 dignitaries, lifeboat and fundraising volunteers from New Brighton and Hoylake, supporters and guests. Dame Lorna Muirhead D.B.E., Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside and Mr Ronald Muirhead and The Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral Councillor Gerry Ellis and Mrs Margaret Ellis were our guests for the evening.
RNLI Council member Mr Anthony Hannay presented a Vellum to the station Lifeboat Operations Manager Graham Sale signed by the President of the RNLI, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, states ‘The Royal National Lifeboat Institution Gratefully Recognises 150 years Services of New Brighton Lifeboat Station from 1863 to 2013. The event was funded entirely through the sale of tickets plus a raffle with prizes donated by local organisations who support us. Website:www.newbrightonlifeboat.org.uk
Events later in the year will concentrate on providing sea and beach safety advice to local schools and supporting locally organised events where possible.
‘Have you saved any pirates ’
A question asked when we attended St Georges Primary School for the first of our planned school events when they held a uniform free day in support of the RNLI biggest fundraising day and raised a magnificent £730.
620 children received sea and beach safety advice from a team of 4 of our volunteers. Teachers and pupils got into the swing by trying on lifeboat gear and lifejackets. A follow up visit is planned for later in the year to expand the safety message further.
