The RNLI ( Royal National Lifeboat Institution for those outside the UK) has been rescuing people at sea since 1824 and in that time has saved more than 139,000 lives. They currently have 330 boats in 23 stations around the country of various sizes and classes. A registered charity, all of its funding comes from donations and it is manned by volunteers. We all know that they rescue people from stricken vessels. You may know that their lifeguards patrol beaches and perform first aid. Did you know they have a flood rescue team? Also volunteers, specially trained  in swift water rescue techniques and ready to travel anywhere in the world.

Today I was in Beer, a lovely east Devon village with a Lifeboat shop raising vital funds to keep the service afloat. I learnt that it costs £75 for a rescue tube, bright yellow and made of plastic foam, with enough buoyancy to get an adult back on dry land. This is a small necessity, a tamar class lifeboat costs £2.7 million. I don’t know why there is no government funding for  lifeboats, but I guess that if a charity works why would they bother?

Today it worked like this.

A duck race! It’s lifeboat week in Beer, this is one of their fund raisers and a great success with the little ones that also raises awareness.