Nigel Tolley and his wife, Jo, enjoyed an amazing insight into the RNLI and its world-class service on Sunday, after winning a VIP tour of Tenby Lifeboat Station through a unique RNLI Ebay auction. A diverse range of unique prizes went under the virtual hammer between June 15-25, and the couple from Kidderminster were delighted to be the winning bidders of the Tenby RNLI experience. A behind-the-scenes tour of the lifeboat station and lifeboat, trying on the all-weather kit and having a picture taken with the crew were all part of the unique package. The couple left with a framed certificate signed by the crew as a memento of their VIP visit. By taking part in the auction, the couple have helped to support the RNLI's Train One, Save Many Appeal, which was launched in 2004 to raise £10m over five years to ensure lifeboat crews can continue rescuing 22 people every single day. Mr. and Mrs. Tolley spend a considerable amount of time in Tenby and were keen to take a closer look at the new £5.84m lifeboat station and £2.5m state-of-the-art Tamar class lifeboat Haydn Miller. In June, 2006, townsfolk turned out in their droves to witness the naming of the first Tamar class lifeboat to go on service at an RNLI lifeboat station. Mr. Tolley said: "We have looked around the public areas of the marvellous new station on several occasions, but bidding on this item provided a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes. "The RNLI is just as an important emergency service as the fire, ambulance or police, yet it is unique in the way it does not receive any UK government funding. It is so important that the public support this vital life-saving service."
