Paul Boissier, Chief Executive of the RNLI, has been on the south coast over the last few days visiting several lifeboat stations and a group of crew and volunteers was on hand to give him a warm welcome at Rye Harbour on Thursday, February 22.
Tony Edwards, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Rye Harbour, hosted his visit to meet some of the volunteer team including Trevor Bryant, who is Senior Helm and has been involved with the RNLI for 30 years, Sharon Gozna, Joseph Brown, Will Gamble, Gary Callard, KT Bruce, Lifeboat Press Officer, and Allen Head, Area Life-Saving Manager.
Paul said that he had been reflecting during this trip on the fact that the world we live in today is much changed since he had joined the Institution in 2009 and we must remind ourselves there is something very special about the RNLI and those who volunteer and supporters.
Commenting on the meeting, Tony Edwards observed: “All of us got involved in some interesting discussions around the table. Everyone had an opportunity to air his or her views and to put forward ideas”.
Part of the discussion was about the perceptions that the public has of the RNLI and fundraising. Paul remarked that fundraising was about building relationships with people and getting them to come to the RNLI without ever pestering them for donations.
There was talk of the Mary Stanford service at the Church of the Holy Spirit in the harbour each November and how special the forthcoming one will be because it will be the 90th anniversary of the tragic loss of an entire lifeboat crew.
On 15 November 1928 seventeen men, brothers, fathers, sons, and uncles of Harbour folk were all lost at sea on one call-out, dealing a devastating blow to the whole male fishing population of the village.
Paul’s parting shot as he left the station was to say: ‘You guys need to feel really proud of yourselves. So thank you for what you do.’
Rye Harbour station is currently seeking more volunteers both for crew and fundraising. The RNLI is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coast of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the country.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
KT Bruce Local Press Officer RNLI Rye Harbour 07789818878
Photo: KT Bruce