Former Crew Member raises funds for Weston RNLI

19th January 2010

Troy Dunstone used his 40^th Birthday celebrations to raise a considerable amount for his old lifeboat station at Weston-super-Mare

Troy Dunstone is a former RNLI Crew Member at Weston who likes to keep in touch with us all at Birnbeck. As it was his 40th Birthday recently he decided he would like to use his celebration party at VII Night Club to raise funds for Weston Lifeboat Station. It is hoped that this money will be used to purchase a piece of equipment to assist us in Saving Lives at Sea. Troy was encouraged and helped by the Owner (Vassos Sangolis) and Staff at VII to accomplish his wish which resulted in the sum of £1000 being raised and the cheque was presented to us last week.

Vassos and Troy have expressed a wish to organise and host a larger event during the summer to raise funds for the Weston RNLI Lifeboat Station.

The picture shows, from left to right, Troy Dunstone, Vassos Sangolis, Pete Holder (Lifeboat Operation Manager Weston super-Mare.)

Christmas and Boxing Day sporting events in aid of Weston-super-Mare RNLI

On Christmas Day a group of hardy swimmers braved the cold waters of the Marine Lake to swim for the RNLI and Macmillan Cancer Relief. On Boxing Day robust souls from the Weston Bay Yacht Club took part in a race around the Bay.

The annual Christmas Day Swim, organised by Heath Hardy from the Cove Restaurant was the best attended since it started attracting 40 folk who, despite the cold, swam in the freezing waters of Marine Lake on Weston seafront. The event is in aid of the RNLI, the charity which saves life at sea, and McMillan Cancer Relief.

On Boxing Day the Weston Bay Yacht Club revived a race around the Bay. This year the Trophy, called the Passey and Porter Speed Trophy, was competed on timed handicap circuits of Weston Bay. They began at a Start Line from Knightstone Harbour Flag post with the RNLI flag flying at its masthead and RNLI gazebo at its base. Circuits of Weston Bay were made from a start upwind in a South Westerly wind force 3-4 with sunshine sailing to the Juicy Clear Water Buoy out near the end of Brean Down then back downwind to the Lifeboat Holding Buoy adjacent to the RNLI Boathouse old slipway then across wind past Anchor Head to the Finish at the original Start Line.

The yachts made a donation every time they took the time trial. The spectacle proved very popular with Boxing Day Bank Holiday public who also generously donated into collecting buckets. All proceeds in aid of the RNLI.

The results were as follows.

1^st Lasten Paul Turner Shipman 28 47.22 min

2^nd Dash II Martin Thomas Hunter Horizon 27 49.12 min

3^rd Moth Les Willis Westerly Konsort 29 55.78 min

4^th Imagine George Robbins Hunter Europe 18 55.83 min

5^th Greensleeves Pat Jensen Shipman 28 57.07 min

The trophy shield will be presented at Weston Bay Yacht Club Annual Dinner Dance and Presentation in March 2010.

Golf Club plays a blinder in aid of the RNLI

20th December 2009

During their year as Captain and Lady's Captain Alysia and Tim Rees organised a range of fund raising events in aid of the RNLI, the charity which saves lives at sea. These events included a Lady's Captain Day, a Men's Captain day, an auction of miscellaneous donations and car parking places. On one occasion they even had a competition to see who could chip the most golf balls into a demonstration "D" Class RNLI lifeboat which they had borrowed for the event.

The cheque was received by Pete Holder, Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Operations Manager.

Mr Holder said, "As you all know the RNLI is entirely dependent on charitable donations if it is to carry on its work of saving lives at sea. It receives no funds from the Government. Our crews, all volunteers, will be on call, as always, all over the Christmas and New Year holiday but they could not function without the support of generous people such as yourselves. This money will go towards buying a thermal imaging camera so we can see people in the water at night. We have decided we want such an instrument after we were unable to save the two men in the water at night earlier in the year."

Thank you for your Support at Weston Carnival

Monday 16th November

The Fundraising Committee and Crew and families of the RNLI Weston super Mare lead the Carnival floats, and had their buckets at the ready to collect! The total's are not in yet - but many thanks for your support!

The South Weston Community Association marked its closure by fund raising

26th November 2009

The South Weston Community Association has been a volunteer organisation since 1974. It offered a lunch club for the elderly. It also ran the Parkside Community Café in the Bournville area of Weston offering healthy and affordable meals. Using the For All Healthy Living Company premises they have been providing for the older people in a deprived area of Weston-super-Mare.

South Weston Community Association's aim was to promote health and wellbeing, encourage social interaction and engagement within the community

Due to the economic slowdown funds have not been available to the Association so it is having to wind up its activities.

To mark this closure they held a fund raising concert with The Age and Re-Offender providing the music and the Captain's Cabin providing the beer. They raised £300 which was presented by its President Councillor Bob Bateman to the local RNLI Lifeboat station this week.

The picture shows Councillor Bob Bateman handing the cheque to Pete Holder, Lifeboat Operations Manager. Birnbeck island Lifeboat station is in the background.

RNLI benefits from Mayor's Funds

25th November 2009

The Weston-super-Mare immediate past Mayor Councillor Andrew Horler raised funds from his charitable activities during his term of office. Barclays bank topped up these funds which were handed out to the chosen recipients at the Blakehay Theatre on Wednesday night.

The RNLI was one of his three chosen charities. The picture shows Mrs Judith Hayes, RNLI Fundraising Treasurer receiving a cheque for £3000 from Councillor Horler.

Big Swim and Classic Car Rally Update

September 2009 - £1295.75 Raised to Date!

Big thanks to all those who supported us for the Big Swim and Classic Car Rally that took place on Sunday 13th September in the brilliant sunshine and grand weather.

Initial figures would indicate that we raised a massive £1295.75 on the day! We are still receiving and counting up the totals from sponsorship, but it is well worth noting that all funds raised go directly to support our Crew and Station.

Congratulations to Sean McHenry who came in first to a warm welcome at Anchor Head.