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Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Woodhall Spa Branch
Registered Charity Number 209603 |
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RNLI news
Rescue statistics
Each year there are more than 7,000 lifeboat launches and lifeguards attend in excess of 3,000 beach incidents. Every one of these events is carefully recorded.
These statistics show that 2003 was the RNLI's busiest year so far. Lifeboats around the British Isles were launched 8,047 times rescuing 7,815 people - an average of 21 per day.
Beach lifeguards also had their busiest season to date. They attended 7,226 incidents where they saved 27 lives. The pie chart below shows the nature of these incidents and their distribution:
The RNLI on TV
In March and April 2004 the RNLI, together with other rescue organisations, was featured in the 8 week BBC series "Danger on the Beach". This series made compelling viewing and, deservedly, drew an audience of over 4 million. Owing to its success other series have followed and proved to be just as popular.
The Grace Darling Museum Appeal
On the night of 6 September 1838 a storm swept over the Farne Islands, off the Bamburgh coast. As dawn broke the following morning Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, saw the steam ship Forfarshire aground on the rocks of a nearby island. Clinging to the wreck were 9 members of its crew. They were in severe danger. Their only hope of survival were Grace Darling, 22 old, and her father. They did not hope in vain. With disregard for their own safety Grace and her father rowed over a mile in an open boat through treacherous seas to bring the survivors to safely to shore.
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To Grace Darling's distress this heroic feat was given unprecedented coverage in the Victorian press and she became the media celebrity of the day. Sadly she died a few years later of tuberculosis. But she was not forgotten. A century later a national campaign raised enough money to help fund a museum in which to house many of Grace's personal belongings and the boat in which the rescue was made. The RNLI became guardian of this collection. |
The museum in Bamburgh remained virtually unchanged from 1938 until today. It had been visited by over 40,000 people every year and desperately needed updating to satisfy current needs. Consequently the RNLI launched an appeal for £150,000 to support a heritage lottery bid application other funding. This was successful and the refurbishment was undertaken. The museum has been closed whilst the work is in process but the end is in sight and it is expected to re-open in December. Once open it will offer:
· an education, resource and community room for research and events
· exciting new and improved exhibitions
· better access and facilities for visitors, staff and volunteers.
Visit http://www.rnligracedarling.org.uk
Fund raising events
Would you like to take part in a fun or action packed event and help to contribute to the RNLI at the same time?
The RNLI is involved in numerous fund raising events in the UK and Republic of Ireland. These include, among many other activities, dinner parties, sponsored walks, running, parachute jumping, and whitewater rafting. To find out more about these events visit www.rnli.org.uk/events
2004 Jewellery appeal
Since the scheme was inaugurated in 1986 the sale of unwanted jewellery, chains and watches, small objet d'art, medals and other collectables, donated to the RNLI has raised £494,317.
If you have any such items you would like to donate please send them to:
Roy Norgrove
Jewellery Appeal Orgniser
RNLI
West Quay Road
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1HZ
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