HRH The Princess Royal today visited Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station, as the station celebrates half a century of saving lives at sea.
The Princess Royal met with the volunteer crew who were hailed the busiest in Wales during 2014, having launched 73 and rescued 60 people.
In 1965 the RNLI re-established a lifeboat service at Porthcawl and introduced one of its new experimental inshore lifeboats, which was a great success. A volunteer crew was formed and as the area grew in popularity and people were spending an increasing amount of leisure time at the coast, demand for the service grew.
Volunteer crews at Porthcawl experienced their busiest ever year in 2014, statistics released in January revealed a massive 49 per cent increase in lifeboat launches during the year. The number of people rescued during 2014 doubled compared with the previous year.
During the visit, the VIP guest was introduced to Porthcawl RNLI Station Chairman John Abraham and Lifeboat Operations Manager Phil Missen. Mr Missen introduced HRH to a number of volunteer crew, who saved 16 lives in 2014.
The Princess Royal enjoyed taking a closer look at Porthcawl’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Rose of the Shires and D-class lifeboat Jean Ryall
From being named the busiest station in Wales to having a Royal visitor, it really has been an exciting start to the year for Porthcawl RNLI.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Philip Missen MBE
Porthcawl RNLI’s 50th anniversary
celebrated with Royal visit
Author: Dannielle Rush
Date: 09/02/2015
HRH The Princess Royal today visited Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station, as the station celebrates half a century of saving lives at sea.
The Princess Royal met with the volunteer crew who were hailed the busiest in Wales during 2014, having launched 73 and rescued 60 people.
In 1965 the RNLI re-established a lifeboat service at Porthcawl and introduced one of its new experimental inshore lifeboats, which was a great success. A volunteer crew was formed and as the area grew in popularity and people were spending an increasing amount of leisure time at the coast, demand for the service grew.
Volunteer crews at Porthcawl experienced their busiest ever year in 2014, statistics released in January revealed a massive 49 per cent increase in lifeboat launches during the year. The number of people rescued during 2014 doubled compared with the previous year.
During the visit, the VIP guest was introduced to Porthcawl RNLI Station Chairman John Abraham and Lifeboat Operations Manager Phil Missen. Mr Missen introduced HRH to a number of volunteer crew, who saved 16 lives in 2014.
The Princess Royal enjoyed taking a closer look at Porthcawl’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Rose of the Shires and D-class lifeboat Jean Ryall.
Phil Missen, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager says:
‘From being named the busiest station in Wales to having a Royal visitor, it really has been an exciting start to the year for Porthcawl RNLI. As volunteers, the crew give up so very much of their time to help save lives at sea, especially as 2014 was so very busy. It fills our crew with a real sense of pride to know their efforts appreciated and to be congratulated by a Royal visitor was really quite something.
‘It was an honour to welcome the Princess Royal to our station as such a significant time in our station’s history. We’ve come a long way in the last 50 years, but one thing that remains unchanged is not only the commitment and dedication of the crew, but the people who work so hard behind the scenes to fundraise and keep the RNLI charity afloat.’
The station’s President Peter Scott introduced HRH to the station’s Operations Committee, and shop volunteers also enjoyed an opportunity to meet their special guest.
HRH The Princess Royal was invited to unveil a plaque to commemorate the anniversary and re-founding of Porthcawl RNLI. She was then presented with a framed photograph of the station
The visit is the start of packed calendar for Porthcawl RNLI during their anniversary year. Tickets are currently on sale for the station’s 50th anniversary ball to held at the Grand Pavilion on Friday, 26 June.
Marj Abraham, a member of the Porthcawl RNLI fundraising guild who has raised £60,000 over the last 14 years raffling beautiful handmade quilts is already planning a special design to mark the momentous occasion.
For more information, or to support fundraising during the station’s anniversary year, please contact RNLI Community Fundraising Manager Jen Abell on 07831 109770.
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