Hoylake & West Kirby RNLI event raises thousands to support volunteer lifesavers
A summer fundraising event hosted by Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI has raised almost £5,000 through generous donations from the Wirral lifeboat stations’ local community and supporters.
The annual RNLI Meet and Greet Day on Saturday 26 July offered the public a rare chance to step aboard the lifesaving charity’s lifeboats, including Hoylake’s Shannon class lifeboat and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft and West Kirby’s D class IB1 lifeboat.
The stations’ launch and recovery vehicles were also be on display, including Hoylake’s Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) and West Kirby’s Hagglund BV206 launch vehicle - the only vehicle of its type based on station in the RNLI.
As the sun shone on Hoylake promenade, RNLI volunteers spoke to hundreds of visitors about their search and rescue work around the region’s coast and offered lifesaving tips on staying safe at the beach and on the water.
The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team joined the event, displaying their rescue vehicles and equipment and springing into action when they received a real-life emergency tasking during the event.
Hoylake & West Kirby Sea Cadets showcased the activities they offer for young people on sea and land, while visitors enjoyed viewing a selection of stunning classic cars on display.
The incredible total of £4,984.08 was raised from generous donations from the public, as well as through sales of RNLI souvenirs, refreshments and tombola tickets. Visitors also made donations to soak a crew member in the stocks and to try their hand at helming a remote control RNLI lifeboat.
Howie Owen, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain, said: ‘We can’t thank everyone enough for coming along to our Meet and Greet Day and supporting Hoylake and West Kirby lifeboat stations. It’s a special opportunity to open our boathouse doors and talk to visitors about the RNLI’s lifesaving work.’
‘There’s always a brilliant community atmosphere and we’re so grateful to everyone who donated to support our 24-hour search and rescue service. Thanks also go to all the fantastic volunteers who ran stalls, collected donations, baked delicious cakes for our refreshments stall, and made the event such a success!’
Richard Diamond, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘We’re always grateful for the incredible turnout and generosity shown at events like our Meet & Greet Day. It was a fantastic reminder of how much local support we have behind us from the community and it was brilliant to see so many people come together.’
‘Every penny raised helps us continue saving lives at sea and ensures that anyone in difficulty at the coast can get the help they need. On behalf of our entire crew and volunteers, thank you so much.’
In 2024, as the RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary, lifeboats in the UK and Ireland launched 9,141 times and helped 17,068 people. A total of 437 lives were saved - more than one on every day of the year. But as a charity, the RNLI relies on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work, which last year cost a total of £191.2 million.
Anyone wishing to donate online directly to support the lifeboat stations can visit fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Hoylake
Notes to editors
Hoylake Lifeboat Station was founded in 1803 and is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the UK. It operates the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and Inshore Rescue Hovercraft Hurley Spirit.
West Kirby Lifeboat station was founded in 1966 and operates the inshore IB1 lifeboat Leonard Pownall. It is the only lifeboat station in the RNLI to operate the Hagglund BV206 all-terrain launch vehicle.
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact:
Dan Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 851 316 or email [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728 315 or email [email protected]
RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.