Sunderland RNLI 2012 Lifeboat Day

Members of the Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station and Lifeboat Guild invite supporters to the station’s annual Lifeboat Day this weekend (Sunday 29 July) 11.00am to 4.00pm.

The event will be held in Marine Walk car park opposite the RNLI Lifeguard Base at Roker, Sunderland.
 
The Sunderland RNLI Station has a 212 year history of saving lives at sea. During those years the class and types of lifeboats have changed from sail and oar, to today’s state of the art power craft equipped with navigation aids and capable of speeds of up to 35 knots. Already during 2012, the charity’s two Sunderland inshore lifeboats have been launched into action on 54 occasions.
 
The RNLI has operated a beach lifeguard service on beaches at Roker and Seaburn on behalf of Sunderland City Council since 2009.
 
The event will be officially opened at 11am by MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott.
Julie holds the position of PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) to Caroline Flint MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government through which she communicates with other MPs and assists Caroline with her duties.  Julie enjoys spending time with her four adult children and two young granddaughters, walking along the constituency’s coastline.
 
During the event there will be several demonstrations taking place during the day on the water featuring both the RNLI lifeguards and the station’s two inshore lifeboats.
Other attractions will include children’s rides, various stalls, games (including ‘Soak a Lifeboat Crewman’), model boat display, food and refreshments.
 
The event will also be visited by all weather lifeboats from Sunderland’s neighbouring RNLI lifeboat stations***.
 
A Local Amateur radio group (event call sign GB1SLB) will be broadcasting across the country and the world during the day to promote the event and the work of the RNLI.
 
Representatives from local business and charitable groups will also be attending the event from Sunderland football club’s foundation and Barclays bank.
 
Music and entertainment will provided throughout the day by Sunderland’s Community Steel Pan band ‘Pantastic’. They are a 23 strong group of mixed ages and physical abilities that play a variety of music from traditional Caribbean calypso to 50s rock ‘n’ roll right through to modern pop music. The band has a long and prestigious history winning awards, entertaining royalty and putting the sun into community and corporate events for over 16 years!
 
Paul Nicholson, Senior Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said: ‘We would like to invite the people of Sunderland to come along and take part in this open day at our Lifeboat Station. It will also give everyone the chance to meet our volunteer crew and have a look around our two inshore lifeboats as well contributing towards the charity’s on-going running costs’.
 
***Subject to operational requirements.
 
As a registered charity the RNLI relies on voluntary donations and legacies from the public for its income.
 
 
Picture caption
Sunderland RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat at sea – Credit: Ken Jackson
 
Notes to editors
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station is the oldest continually operation lifeboat in the United Kingdom. It was originally opened in 1800 before being adopted by the RNLI in 1865.
 
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station operates its own website www.rnlisunderland.org where supporters can keep up to date with station specific activities.
 
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station has a profile on Twitter (SunderlandRNLI) and Facebook (RNLI Sunderland) where supporters can keep up to date with station specific activities and news.
 
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station operates two inshore type lifeboats: An Atlantic 85 8.3m inflatable capable of 35 knots and a D Class (IB-1) 4.5m inflatable capable of 25 knots.
 
• RNLI Lifeguards at Sunderland operate an RWC or Rescue Water Craft this is a specially adapted personal watercraft which gives additional lifesaving capability.
 
RNLI media contacts 
For more information please telephone: 
 
Paul Nicholson, Sunderland RNLI Press Officer on 07957 494 077 or email - pauldnich@yahoo.co.uk or
 
Ben Mitchell, Sunderland RNLI Assistant Press Officer on 07923 218 761 or email – bensocio@hotmail.com  or
 
As an alternative please contact Alison Levett, Media Relations Manager North on 07786 668 912 or alevett@rnli.org.uk or RNLI Headquarters Public Relations on 01202 336000.