The Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat station held its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday 14^th December. The Tendring Caprice Orchestra and Grange Co-operative Singers under the leadership of Anna Rendell-Knights brought a selection of festive songs and carols to St Pauls Church hall. The audience were encouraged to join in and take part in a mock snowball fight. The performance ended with hot drinks, mince pies and a raffle. £304 was raised for the RNLI on a very enjoyable afternoon.

Press Officer Mel Winger 21/12/2008

Clactons Atlantic 75 lifeboat brought ashore a very special passenger this morning. Father Christmas was paying his annual visit to the boathouse to meet his many young friends in his grotto. Almost one hundred children came to tell him what they would like for Christmas, each receiving a small gift.

The crew were on hand to talk about the lifeboats and visitors were able to see the boats launch on exercise.

Although the wind was cold, the rain held off and an enjoyable morning was had by everyone.

Press Officer Mel Winger 30/11/2008

Lifeboat Carol Concert 

The Clacton –on-Sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution is holding its annual carol concert on Sunday December 14^th at St Pauls church hall in Church Road starting at 2.30pm. The Caprice orchestra and choir will be bringing a mix of Christmas songs and carols to get the festive season off to a good start. Tickets are £4 for adults (children free) and are available from the lifeboat shop in Hastings Avenue or Smiths Service Centre in Orwell Road.

Press Officer Mel Winger 21/11/2008

Coffee Morning

A coffee morning organized by the Clacton Lifeboat Ladies on the 16th October  raised £193.50 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The event was held on Saturday October 11^th at Saint Bartholomews church hall in Holland-on-Sea and, as usual, was well supported.

The souvenir stall proved popular taking £223.75, with Christmas cards selling well.

Many thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a success.

Press Officer Mel Winger 17/10/2008

Bowled Over

A carpet bowls tournament held on Sunday October the 12^th in Great Bentley village hall raised a magnificent £550.57 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Peter and Chris Umney organized the event in memory of Freda Chaplin, a much loved member of the Silver Dawn Carpet Bowls Club who also helped with sponsorship.

Twenty teams of four played all day, with the triumphant team, Clacton-on-Sea, skippered by Ann Hodgkins, winning all five of their matches. Runners-up were Chelmer Village.

Mel Winger, press officer for the Clacton lifeboats went along to receive the cheque from Peter and Chris and was delighted to see so many people still smiling at the end of a long day. He thanked everyone for their efforts in making the day so enjoyable and raising such a large amount.

Beavers Visit the Lifeboat

Twenty Beaver Scouts from the 1^st Holland-on-Sea Scout Group paid a visit on the 29th September to the Clacton-on-Sea station, accompanied by their leaders and helper adults. They were greeted by a number of the stations crew and given a very interesting and informative tour of the lifeboats and the life saving equipment.

The visit was rounded off by the presentation of a Chief Scout Bronze Award to Beaver Scout Joel Wiggins. This is the highest award that a beaver Scout can attain. The presentation was made by one of the lifeboat crew dressed in his sea-going kit.

Tony Merryweather

02/10/2008

1st Holland-on-Sea Beaver Scouts

Coffee Morning

The Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Ladies are holding a coffee morning on Saturday 11^th October at Saint Bartholomew’s church hall, Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea, in aid of the RNLI. Doors open from 10am until 12 noon, admission 50p including coffee and biscuits. There will be various stalls including lifeboat gifts, Christmas cards, diaries, calendars, bric-a-brac and cakes, and  a raffle.

Press Officer Mel Winger 30/09/2008

It all came about after Richard Elston, aged 15, persuaded his school to make the RNLI its national charity of the year. His love of the RNLI began when, as a four year-old, his mother took him to Aldeburgh lifeboat  station, then his Grandfather signed him up as a “Storm Force”* member. Ever since then Richard has been an avid supporter of the RNLI.

 

Richard said:  I think it’s quite a novel way to raise money and I know the funds we raise will help lifeboat crews.’

 

In addition, retiring collections from all school plays and concerts this term, plus collections from three Chapel Services and two School Carol Services in December will also be donated to the RNLI.

 

RNLI Area Fundraising Manager Jayne Parsons said: ‘Richard has organised a terrific event in aid of the RNLI, which will raise significant funds for our lifesaving service and go towards equipping and supporting our volunteer lifeboat crews.’

 

Anyone wishing to support Richard can visit the website http://www.justgiving.com/pier-to-pier. He is hoping to raise approximately £500 for the RNLI.

Paul Evans 29/09/2008

Three members of the Clacton-on-Sea Railway Club paid a visit to the Clacton lifeboat station to present a cheque for £450 to the RNLI. Alan Buckingham, Roger Box and Bob Livingstone had a look around the boats and the station and met some of the crew. The money was raised through various events at the club and station Operations Manager, Rob Smith, thanked the members for their support again this year. The towns lifeboats rely on donations to keep them at sea and the Railway Club is one of our much appreciated supporters.

The photo shows Alan, Roger and Bob presenting the cheque to Rob, and some of the crew.

Press Officer Mel Winger 14/08/2008

The tenants of Holly Court in Old Road, Clacton have been busy raising funds for the local lifeboat. With weekly raffles and a table top sale they were able to present a cheque for £350 to the Clacton RNLI. Well done to everyone.

The picture shows some of the tenants at their coffee morning.

 The ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Clacton-on-Sea have come up trumps with a tremendous year of fund-raising. Although they have only forty members they managed an impressive £3000 for local charities, with two big events, a pig race night and a bridge drive being very well supported. Out-going President, Ann Norman, chose the RNLI as the main charity for her year in office and was very pleased to be able to present a cheque for £2000 to Lifeboat Operations Manager, Rob Smith. He thanked the ladies for their efforts in raising such a large sum and extended an invitation for them to visit the boathouse to see how the rescue service operates.

The picture shows Ann and Rob with the cheque, watched by the Inner Wheel ladies and RNLI branch chairman David Porter.

Press Officer Mel Winger 18/07/2008

Awards to members of the Clacton-on-Sea branch 2008 

Gold Badge

David Snell

Marion Snell

David Porter

 

Silver Badge

Graham Crame

Chris Locke

Mel Winger

 

Bronze Badge

Rita Vamplew

 

Certificate of Thanks

Stan Bench

Vera Chambers

Isobel Freeborn

Celia Merryweather

Wendy Lockyear

Press Officer Mel Winger 30/06/2008

RNLI applauds work of local fundraisers

Some of the RNLI’s most prolific fundraisers* have been honoured at the region’s awards ceremony held last Sunday at Robinson College, Cambridge.

In total 56 people received awards at the College. The guests all sat down to a sumptuous lunch, followed by a presentation from Janet Jeacock on Cambridge University and the colleges and then the awards were presented by Wells-next-the-Sea coxswain Allen Frary and each person had their photograph taken.

 

RNLI Senior Fundraising Manager Stella Dubbin said: ‘I am thrilled that so many people from across the region have received awards. It’s been a bumper year. We know that many people work so hard and for that we are extremely grateful.’

 

One person receiving an award was John Chapman, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, who was given a bar to the gold badge – only one of two presented in the region this year and one of the highest accolades that a volunteer can receive.

 

Mr. Chapman for the last 35 years has been a member of the Woodbridge & District branch firstly organising the collection boxes, then as assistant secretary, followed by Chairman and now is the President. He helps organise a President’s Dinner every year, held at Ufford Golf Club and when not fundraising for the RNLI like to sail regularly on the River Deben in his own boat.

 

John Chapman said: ‘I was delighted to receive an award. The whole event was most impressive. It was nice to see all those people getting awards. Most seemed to be more worthy of an award that I did.’

 

Mrs Angela Bill was presented with a posthumous certificate of thanks award for her husband Mr William Brian Bill who served on the Brentwood branch. Brian was an extremely well liked committee member, who was very willing to help and support all aspects of branch fundraising. 

 

Stella Dubbin added: ‘This awards ceremony is a shining beacon in the regional calendar giving us the opportunity to show our appreciation, admiration and grateful thanks to our volunteers who support the lifeboat service with such determination and fortitude. Well done to everyone who received an award.’

 

 

Amy Ross

Media Relations Manager East

RNLI

 

The photo shows some of the members from Clacton who received awards. Left to right – Graham Crame (silver badge), Celia Merryweather (certificate of thanks), Isobel Freeborn (certificate of thanks), Wendy Lockyear (certificate of thanks) and David Porter (gold badge).

 

Photo by courtesy of Dumbletons Photography, Cambridge.

Press Officer Mel Winger 30/06/2008

Coffee Morning

The Clacton Lifeboat Ladies held a coffee morning in one of their members gardens and raised £350 for the RNLI. The sunny weather helped to bring the people out and the cake stall was busy as usual. The souvenir stall was on hand and took a further £74. Many thanks to everyone who gave their support.

Press Officer Mel Winger 26/06/2008

Annual Meeting

The Clacton-on-Sea branch of the RNLI held its first Annual Meeting since restructuring took place in October 2006.

Chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group, David Porter, opened the meeting by welcoming the large number of people who had attended and thanking the branch members for their support throughout the year.

He asked the various members of the management group to give their reports and all were pleased with the way things had progressed since our move to the new station. The souvenir shop had a very good year despite the bad weather during the summer, fund raising events had been well supported and the introduction of “Lifeboat Week” had been a great success.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Rob Smith, reported that the “Atlantic75” lifeboat had launched 43 times, and the “D” class 21. He was pleased with the way the crew had adapted to the new boathouse and how smoothly the training on the launching tractors had gone. We now had a boathouse and equipment fit for the twenty-first century and a crew who could use it efficiently and effectively.

The Chairman closed the meeting by adding that there was now a new buoyant atmosphere around the station which made the work of the volunteers a joy to do.

Press Officer Mel Winger 23/05/2008

Holly Court do it again

The residents of Holly Court in Old Road, Clacton, have once again shown their support for the Lifeboats by raising £265 through weekly raffles. David Porter, Chairman of the local Lifeboat Management Group, went along for a coffee and a chat before receiving the cheque.

Holly Court are ardent fund-raisers making regular donations to the RNLI and Essex Air Ambulance. Well done, and keep up the good work.

Press Officer Mel Winger 17/05/2008

Open Days at the Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat House

This year the Clacton RNLI is holding five open days at the boathouse in Hastings Avenue. They are- Saturday May 24, Sunday May 25, Saturday May 31, Sunday June 1 and Saturday June 7,

The boathouse will be open from 10am until 4pm and members of the crew will be on hand to talk about the lifeboats and the work of the station.

This is a chance for the public to come along and see the new boathouse and meet some of the people involved.

Press Officer Mel Winger 14/05/2008

Sea Scouts help the Lifeboats

Members of the 3^rd Sudbury Sea Scouts paid a visit to the Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat station to present a cheque for £300 to the RNLI. The group had been fund-raising for equipment for their unit and had promised that any extra money would go to the lifeboats. They do much of their on water training at Brightlingsea, part of the area covered by the Clacton boats. They were shown round the lifeboats and crew facilities before handing the cheque to station Operations Manager, Rob Smith.

Press Officer Mel Winger 13/05/2008

Garden Centre Evening

The Clacton-on-Sea branch of the RNLI held a garden centre evening at Craft Nurseries, Lawford, on Saturday 10^th May. The fine weather brought out the scent of the flowers and judging by the full car boots encouraged people to think about gardening now that the summer seems to have arrived. A hanging basket demonstration was given by the garden centre team and Patsy Potter from Brightlingsea gave one of her amusing flower arranging shows.

The evening was a great success raising £756 for the lifeboats. Our thanks go to the staff of the centre and the restaurant for making us so welcome.

Press Officer Mel Winger 13/05/2008

Fashion Show

The Clacton-on-Sea branch of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill held a fashion show in aid of the RNLI, on Wednesday 23^rd April at its town-centre store. Forty people, mostly from the Clacton Lifeboat Ladies group and their friends, watched members of the staff parade the clothes and entertain them for the evening. A grand total of £200 was raised. A big thank you to the shop staff for their efforts.

Press Officer Mel Winger 29/04/2008

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Clacton-on-Sea branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will take place on Tuesday 13^th May 2008 at the United Reform Church in Carnarvon Road, Clacton, at 7.30pm.

Press Officer Mel Winger 24/04/2008

The residence of Holy Court in Old Road have given their fund-raising year a kick start by presenting the Lifeboat with a cheque for £249. The coffee morning raffles are getting busier than ever helping both the RNLI and Essex Air Ambulance.

Well done and many thanks.

Press Officer Mel Winger 18/03/2008