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Gavin & Stacey's 'Dave Coaches' films with Ramsgate RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

  • Date:
    07/03/2011
  • Author: John Ray

Stage, TV and film actor Steffan Rhodri made his latest appearance aboard Ramsgate RNLI's Trent class all-weather lifeboat Esme Anderson and Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat Bob Turnbull on Sunday (6 March) while filming part of a Welsh language TV series

Steffan, known to many through his appearances as Dave Coaches in the TV series Gavin and Stacey and the Harry Potter films, is fronting the programmes to be shown on the Welsh language S4C channel.

The series, which has been filmed in many parts of the world, focuses on a variety of things designed, developed and/or manufactured in Wales and used successfully outside the country.

The RNLI was selected to appear in the series as users of water rescue training dummies manufactured by Ruth Lee Ltd in North Wales. The dummies, which are referred to as "Fred" by the lifeboat crew, replicate an unconscious person in size, weight and reaction.

Steffan was filmed at sea on the lifeboats taking part in the recovery of the dummy and demonstrating how RNLI lifeboat crews are trained in the recovery of people from the sea.

Ramsgate RNLI coxswain Ian Cannon said that the dummy had been introduced to the lifeboat station some six years ago and had considerably helped training by so accurately replicating the feel of an actual person.

RNLI media contacts:

For more information, call Ramsgate RNLI's volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, John Ray, on 07759 480825.

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Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0845 122 6999 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland

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