Members met in Church House last week. After a short service led by Jean, the guest speaker, Mr. David Rees from the RNLI, was welcomed.
Mr. Rees gave a brief history of the lifeboat in Tenby, The RNLI nationwide was formed as a charity in 1824; prior to that there was no organised rescue service. The first lifeboat to come to Tenby was in 1852 at the cost of £125. This was a 10-oared boat and it took 12 men to launch the boat. The great-grandfather of present coxswain, Alan Thomas, was the coxswain of the rowing boat. Other boats followed, such as the Henry Comber Brown, Sir Galahad, up to the present Haydn Miller, which arrived in 2006.
The crew, all volunteers, often have to face waves of 60-foot high and 100 mph winds, sometimes in total darkness. They have to undergo stringent training at Poole, Dorset.
This important rescue service obviously requires a huge amount of money to keep it running, so fund-raising is of vital importance.
Doreen Mortimer, together with volunteers, runs the shop at the lifeboat station, which is a valuable source of income. Doreen brought along a variety of gifts and cards which members were able to buy. It was interesting to learn that 86p in every £1 goes back to the charity. The Tenby lifeboat is the second busiest in Wales and the sixth in the UK.
Ellen thanked Doreen Mortimer, David Rees, and all volunteers for their important work in helping to keep the boat running, thus saving lives around our coast.
Members are asked to note: The Service of Light to be held at Goodwick on January 10 (names to be given in at next meeting).
Monies for the Christmas lunch at the Broadmead should be given in at the next meeting, to be held on December 2, at 2.30 pm, when the guest speaker will be Rev. Michael John.