70 years ago a fundraising branch of the R.N.L.I was established in Brecon by Mr Mervyn Jenkins CBE – our late President. He vowed to support the charity, owing to having been rescued by a lifeboat from Swanage from the beaches at Dunkirk, during the Second World War. A separate fundraising branch was established in Usk in 1968 and the two branches merged in 2011 to form the Vale of Usk Fundraising Branch.
Photo by Nigel Millard
While you may question the need to support a Lifeboat organisation especially as our area is far from the coast, you may need to call on the professionalism of the volunteer crews if you ever:
- Walk on the beach or along a coast path
- Swim in the sea
- Take part in any watersports at sea
- Holiday on a cruise ship
- Fly by air
- Live in a flood prone area
- Travel by boat on the River Thames
In all of the above cases All Weather and In Shore Lifeboat Crews, together with Beach Lifeguards and Flood Rescue Teams, have saved many lives.
Our recent fundraising events include our annual coffee morning and a very successful horse racing evening, with proceeds raised going towards the cost of constructing the new all weather lifeboat, which will soon be delivered to St David’s, West Wales. We’d like to thank everyone who has helped us raise money to be able to contribute the superb sum of £7813 to the R.N.L.I during this financial year. A number of future events are planned for 2015, details of which can be found on the Focus events calendar on page 17
The fundraising Committee’s activities are limited by the fact that the number of people available to organise and run the various activities during the year is very small. If anyone can spare even one or two hours each year to help with events such as the street collections in Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Brecon and Hay we would be very grateful. It can be very rewarding collecting money to provide equipment for the volunteer crews. If you are able to help in any way please contact the Secretary, Pam Sharratt on (01873) 853503 or mobile (07932) 636203.
