Savannah Petroleum : Margate lifeboat station spreads the word about the RNLI … including

Thanet-based Hilderstone Amateur Radio Society recently operated a Special Event Station from Margate lifeboat station aimed at publicising the work of the RNLI.

Margate RNLI has long had a friendly and fruitful relationship with Hilderstone Radio Society, club secretary Ian Lowe is one of the lifeboat station's Deputy Launching Authorities and helped organise the week-long amateur radio station event using the special call sign GB1RNLI aimed at publicising the work of the RNLI.

Over 800 contacts were made with fellow amateurs around the UK, Europe and world-wide with the longest distance established being a contact in New Zealand. The focus however was contacts closer to home speaking to UK and Eire amateurs.

The work of RNLI volunteers exists entirely through public contributions and while demands on the lifeboat service have increased over the years, donations have not kept pace to meet the need.

Club members also made a welcome donation of £78 as thanks for being given permission to use the station and the call sign will be aired again during May as part of the RNLI's annual SOS Week fundraising appeal.

Anyone interested in amateur radio or electronics can contact the Society via [e-mail] visit its website www.G0HRS.org.

Peter Barker, Lifeboat Press Officer, Margate RNLI said: 'Raising funds to support the work of the RNLI is vital but has to start with raising awareness of the organisation with the public. We are extremely grateful to Hilderstone Amateur Radio Society for this unique way of ensuring the work of saving lives at sea can continue.'

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

· Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [e-mail]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (SouthEast), 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 [e-mail]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or or by email.