Shooting community raises over £162,000 for Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Shooters have raised enough money to buy Whitby RNLI three new inshore lifeboats, following a three-day event held at the Warter Priority Estate in East Yorkshire including clay pigeon shooting, an auction and a ball.
Whitby RNLI Coxswain Mike Russell receives a cheque for £160,000 from fundraisers at Warter Priory.
Originally the aim was to raise enough funds to buy Whitby RNLI a new inshore lifeboat, but this target was exceeded within the first day and enough money for two more was raised during the fundraising event. The money will be used to buy a lifeboat for the RNLI relief fleet and another lifeboat for a station on the north east coast.
The new inshore lifeboat going to Whitby will be named Warter Priory and the two others will also have connected names.
Frank Croft, head keeper at Warter Priory said: “Although we are a fieldsport and far away from the sea, we know what an important charity the RNLI are. Anyone could get caught out when visiting the coast, and to know they are there is a real reassurance.
“Here at Warter Priory we couldn’t be prouder that our name will be on the new inshore lifeboat at Whitby. Mike Russell, Whitby’s Coxwain is a regular here so it makes it extra special.”
Mike Russell Coxwain at Whitby RNLI said: “We can’t thank Warter Priory and everyone involved in the fundraising enough for the staggering amount of money they have raised.
“The inshore lifeboat is a crucial piece of equipment, it can get a lot closer to the shoreline than the big all-weather lifeboat. For example if someone gets cut off by the tide the boat can be launched in a matter of minutes to bring people to safety.
We’ve had our current boat 10 years so it was due to be replaced next year.”
Whitby’s current inshore lifeboat, OEM Stone III, which was bought with money from a legacy, has rescued a total of 135 people. The new boat will come into operation early next year.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 234 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 160 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 139,000 lives.
TV stars raise £40k at charity shoot
Television star Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie have raised more than £40,000 for children’s hospice charity Shooting Star Chase at a clay…
Charity clay pigeon shoot hosted by the Earl & Countess Scarbrough raises £11,000
Twenty-seven teams of game and clayshooters came together for the event which was sponsored by Torne Valley Farm and Country…
Charity clay shoot raises more than £15,000 for Papworth Hospital
Competitors totalling some 100 individuals, took part in the all-day event at John Bidwell’s shooting grounds at High Lodge, near…
