Rotary Clubs support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Rotary Clubs Support Royal National Lifeboat Institute

On 21^st December 2023 a successful Christmas Celebration for the Channel Cluster of Rotary Clubs from Sandwich to New Romney was held at the Church of St Mary in Castro in Dover.  The Rotary Club of South Foreland was the lead club for this collaborative event and the main organisers were District Assistant Governor Peter Sherred and his wife Mary.

Members of the RNLI attended the event which was much enjoyed; people gave generously to the retiring collection, with donations totalling £900.

At a meeting of the Rotary Club of South Foreland on 6^th March at the Marina Hotel, which was timed to coincide with the 200^th Anniversary of the RNLI, a cheque for £900 was presented to Danny Wilkins, Coxswain of Dover Lifeboat. Club members, partners and friends were pleased to welcome District Governor Ray Seager and his wife Caroline to the meeting.

Danny began with news of the new lifeboat station at Dover which had recently been opened, marking the 200^th Anniversary of RNLI.  It has a Visitor Centre with interactive features and history of the RNLI and Dover, as well as a shop.  This will be a great tourist attraction once access and parking problems are overcome.  The Grand Opening of the lifeboat station is set for 22^nd June.

Unsurprisingly, Dover Lifeboat Station is the busiest in the country.  There are 35 crew members and two full time: Danny Wilkins and Paul Higgs.  In 2022 the lifeboat had 220 launches, 180 last year and 14 as of March 7^th this year.

The RNLI is a completely voluntary organisation.  Running costs for a year are around £40 million, so fundraising is essential: locally about £70,000 is raised each year.  An advantage of being a voluntary organisation is that the RNLI remains independent of the Government but subject to maritime law.  It may have experienced some criticism from the media concerning its role in the small boats crossing, but it is free from political interference.  It has great support from the public who appreciate the work it does and the bravery of its crews.

Danny mentioned the invisible line in the channel between French and English waters, with the English Search and Rescue area extending into French waters.  Crossing the channel in small boats is dangerous, with a one metre swell being enough to cause problems.  The RNLI always responds to a call or wave for help whatever water it is in.

The current Dover Lifeboat is a Severn Class and named City of London 2.  It is now berthed at a pontoon next to the new lifeboat station.  Having been operational since 1996, it is much used, kept in good condition, and will be fit for another 25 years.  A new boat would cost £3.5 million.  The speed of lifeboats has increased in recent years: the Dover Lifeboat has a range 250 miles at a speed of 25 knots.  At one time 12.5 knots was fast. With the increased cost of fuel, the crews reduce the speed where they can.

A special book has been written to commemorate the 200^th Anniversary of the RNLI and can be bought online.  It is called ‘One Crew’ by Helen Doe.