Pembrokeshire business raises £16,000 for RNLI

Ascona Group, the UK's seventh largest independent fuel retailer, has raised £16,000 for Angle Lifeboat and Milford Haven RNLI, reflecting the Pembrokeshire-based company's commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.

The giant cheque was presented by Ascona Group CEO Darren Briggs to Lewis Creese, Coxswain of the Mark Mason (16-11), the Tamar class lifeboat operated by Angle RNLI, during a visit to Milford Haven.

The Ascona Group team was given a tour of the lifeboat during the visit, providing an insight into the conditions faced by the volunteer crew when responding to emergencies on the Milford Haven Waterway and beyond.

The £16,000 was raised through the group's Making a Difference Locally (MADL) initiative, which operates through Ascona's partnership with Nisa Retail.

Ascona operates 70 roadside destinations across England, Wales and Scotland, each featuring a Nisa convenience store. Through the MADL initiative, money is generated from purchases of Co-op branded products in participating stores and is then allocated to local charities and community organisations chosen by the retailer.

For Darren Briggs, the donation has a particular personal significance. Milford Haven is his hometown, while the Ascona Group name comes from a trawler owned by his great-grandfather.

“Milford Haven is where I grew up and it has always been very close to my heart, so being able to give something back locally means a great deal to me,” Darren explained.

“There is also a lovely connection through the Ascona name, which was inspired by my great-grandfather Charles' trawler called Ascona which operated between Milford Haven and Lowestoft in the 1950s.

“As a business, we believe commercial success should create opportunities to make a lasting difference in the communities we serve, and supporting the RNLI is a great example of that.

“The tour of the lifeboat really brought home the conditions the crew can find themselves working in. Seeing the boat and hearing about what they deal with gives you a completely different appreciation of the job they do.”

Angle RNLI crew member Darrel Walters was delighted to accept the cheque on behalf of the lifeboat crew and fundraising group.

“As a friend of Darren’s, as well as being part of the lifeboat and fundraising team, it was an absolute privilege to accept this generous donation. I was deeply humbled that Darren chose to support the RNLI, and even more so that he chose to do so through the RNLI crew from his hometown of Milford Haven,” he said.

Darrel was joined by fellow members of the RNLI crew, Lewis Creese, Gareth Thomas, James Findlay, Nathen Houston, Neil Coles, Phil Jones and Craig Jones, as well as Alice Coleman, RNLI Community Manager for Mid and West Wales. Members of the Milford Haven RNLI Fundraising Group, including Sarah Solomon, Terri Mathews, Evelyn Walters and RNLI mascot Stormy Stan, also joined the presentation.

RNLI Community Manager Alice Coleman commented: “We’re incredibly grateful to Ascona Group for this generous donation. The RNLI relies on the kindness and support of organisations and individuals in our communities, and funds like this help ensure our volunteer lifeboat crews can continue to save lives at sea around the Pembrokeshire coast. We were delighted to welcome the team aboard the lifeboat and share a little of what our volunteers do to keep people safe.”

The donation forms part of Ascona Group's wider commitment to supporting the communities around its roadside network.

The RNLI's Angle Lifeboat Station is situated on the Milford Haven Waterway, which the charity describes as a large and busy shipping area with a high volume of commercial and leisure traffic.

Across Wales, RNLI lifeboat crews launched 1,180 times in 2025, coming to the aid of 948 people and saving 51 lives. The RNLI is independent of the Coastguard and government and relies on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its lifesaving service.