Teignmouth RNLI is delighted to announce the receipt of an incredible £8255.55 donationfrom the Boat Owners’ Association of Teignmouth (BOAT), following the association’s decision to formally close earlier this year.
RNLI/Amy Furlong
Volunteers from Teignmouth RNLI receive donation from members of Boat Owners Association Teignmouth
The cheque was presented at the Teignmouth RNLI Open Day on Sunday 3 August, a highlight of the station’s community calendar, which welcomed hundreds of visitors for rescue demonstrations and water safety activities. The donation was formally handed over to Fundraising Chair Wendy Richards Wood, joined by Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) Andy Lilburn and several RNLI volunteer crew members.
BOAT, a long-standing organisation within the local maritime community, provided invaluable support to boat owners for several decades. It operated as a hub for sharing advice, building friendships, and most importantly conducting regular ‘boat watches’ to monitor moorings for vandalism, storm damage, and theft. These patrols, especially active at weekends, were instrumental in reducing crime and keeping the river environment safe.
Several years ago, BOAT also contributed funding towards the installation of CCTV cameras overlooking the moorings near Shaldon Bridge. These cameras were credited with assisting police in resolving a local theft shortly after installation and quickly became a deterrent for criminal activity.
However, like many community organisations, BOAT was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As membership and activity declined, an emergency general meeting was held in early 2025 to determine the club’s future. With an almost unanimous agreement that the association had fulfilled its purpose, the decision was made to close and, in line with the original constitution, to donate all remaining funds to the RNLI.
Steve Bentley, former BOAT member said ‘We were very pleased that in our original constitution any monies left in the closing club’s account should be donated to the RNLI. After various expenses of clearing the site, we were delighted to make this donation at the Lifeboat open day’.
“As part of their constitution, the members have made this hugely generous donation on the closure of their club to ensure the maintenance and development of the Teignmouth RNLI station — and these funds will most certainly be used in that way.”
Lifeboat Operations Manager Andy Lilburn added:
“We are incredibly grateful for this significant donation. It’s a testament to the strong ties between our lifeboat station and the local maritime community. The funds will go a long way in supporting our volunteers and maintaining the equipment we need to save lives at sea.”
Teignmouth RNLI extends sincere thanks to all former members of the Boat Owners’ Association for their years of service to the local boating community and for this final, generous act of support for the RNLI’s mission of saving lives at sea.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. 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 146,700 lives.
