Tanks for everything! Hoylake RNLI Coxswain awarded for partnership launch event

The accolade recognises Howard ‘Howie’ Owen’s crucial support in helping to launch a new charitable partnership between the RNLI and a nationwide water delivery and liquid waste disposal business.

In April, the RNLI officially partnered with Universal Tanker Solutions Ltd. at an event at Hoylake Lifeboat Station, where the company unveiled a brand new RNLI-branded drinking water tanker. Based in St. Helens, the company will be supporting the RNLI through donations and by raising the charity’s profile as its tanker travels along the roads.

The prestigious event saw an initial donation of £5,000 presented to Hoylake RNLI by the Chairman of Universal Tankers Simon Gunn. He was joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr. Mark Blundell, and the Mayor of St. Helens, Councillor Jeanette Banks, alongside the lifeboat station’s volunteer crew and their families, Universal Tankers staff, graduates from Tom Harrison House Military Veterans Charity, and some of the company’s customers and suppliers.

Howie was instrumental in helping to organise the event, coordinating between all the different stakeholders and leading the lifeboat station’s preparations to ensure it ran smoothly. It followed a training exercise for the crew, which allowed guests to see Hoylake RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat during its recovery operation.

Howie’s award was presented to him at Hoylake Lifeboat Station by Jo Partner, Head of the RNLI Wales, West & Isle of Man Region.

Chris Gaskin, RNLI Area Operations Manager for Flintshire, Wirral and the Isle of Man, said: ‘This honour is well deserved after Howard stepped outside of his day job to support a partnership event at the lifeboat station. This brought together Universal Tanker Solutions and the RNLI to promote the Institution’s work. Without Howard’s dedication and hard work, the event wouldn’t have been a success.’

Following his award, Howie said: ‘The event wouldn’t have been such a success without the huge effort by all of our volunteers at Hoylake RNLI. We were all proud to have helped make the launch of the Universal Tankers partnership such a success and are grateful for their generous support.’

Corporate partnerships are critical to helping the RNLI save lives at sea, while delivering important organisational and business benefits to sponsoring partners.

Following the partnership launch, Simon Gunn for Universal Tankers said: ‘This is more than just a branded vehicle, it marks the start of a meaningful commitment to support the RNLI’s vital work. We’ve committed to making a significant donation to the RNLI during our first year of partnership.’

‘Customers can also now choose to make a donation to the RNLI every time they order drinking water from us, and we’ll continue our fundraising efforts throughout the year, including at the Royal Cheshire County Show later this summer.’

Find out more about RNLI corporate partnerships at RNLI.org/Partnerships

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.