Burnham on Crouch RNLI has the X-Factor!
Volunteers at Burnham on Crouch Lifeboat Station received a flood of last minute entries into the raffle to win ‘Barangoola’ the newly renovated Hunter 19 sailing boat at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show, raising £17,000 for the Floating Boathouse Appeal.
The RNLI station was assisted in securing a prime position next to the main stage at the 10-day show at the ExCel centre by owners of the boat, the Marine Trades Association and even managed to sell a ticket to X-Factor runner-up, Olly Murs!
The project, developed by David Lewin of FLAG Paints Ltd, a former President of the British Marine Federation and Roger Noble, Chairman of Burnham RNLI, both residents of the town, was to show that boating doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to the rich and famous and that anyone can take up the sport for as little as £5,000.
David said, ‘The plan was to promote safe, enjoyable boating on a budget, primarily to the starter market as these are the people we need to attract to the sport and at the same time raise money for the boathouse appeal at Burnham on Crouch RNLI.’
The lifeboat station had battled through the severe weather to bring the refurbished Hunter 19 ‘Barangoola’ to the stand inside the centre. £800, donated by the Marine Trades Association, was spent on purchasing the vessel and the aim was to make the boat look as good as new for as little as possible with sponsorship from the Marine Industry (led by FLAG Paints Ltd) as well as the local community.
The repairs to the vessel were carried out by the local Lifeboat Station volunteers who managed to cope with removing the umpteen coats of paint, making a new trailer and replacing new winches and rigging, in between the 33 lifeboat launches in the last three months of 2009. They were complemented by the former owner of Hunter Boats, Peter Poland who commented that she now looked better than when she left the factory 37 years ago!
Mayor of Burnham Carol Noble, who was invited to the Boat Show to draw the winning ticket on Sunday 17 January, informed the large audience that had gathered at the main stage, of how incredibly proud she was of the Crew. Speaking at the event she said, “The crew at Burnham RNLI have worked incredibly hard over the last few months to produce a beautiful boat and I’m so very proud of all of them.”
Roger Noble, told the team afterwards, “I must thank you all for the magnificent effort which has produced a great boost for our appeal. I am incredibly proud of you all.”
Dick Rycroft, Lifeboat Operations Manager was also keen to thank everyone involved, by saying “Many, many thanks to all of you who were involved in the project, as boat builders, ticket sellers, sponsors and not least all you enthusiastic supporters. We could not have done it without any of you. As well as raising serious dosh, we have fulfilled David’s dream in demonstrating that anybody with reasonable DIY skills CAN go sailing on a shoestring. I’ve been doing it all my life; let’s hope that the message will now spread and all those sad little boats at the back of every boatyard will be given new life and umpteen new people will get onto the water and have fun.
The quality of the boat and the enthusiasm of every one of you at the show has put Burnham firmly on the map and I have no doubt that without the appalling weather early in the week we could have been even more successful. Very, very well done all of you.”
Walter Jenkins, Treasurer of Burnham RNLI and Chairman of the Boathouse Appeal Committee thanked David and Roger for their amazing efforts in realizing David’s dream of’ resurrecting a wreck’, The British Marine Federation and the Marine Trades Association together with the organizers of the show and the many and varied Burnham individuals and businesses who have shown their support and donated goods and services to help achieve such a fantastic outcome.
Claire Rawlinson, Volunteer Assistant Lifeboat Press Officer said, “It’s been an incredible few months. We’ve been supported in so many ways by so many people there are far too many to mention. It’s been extremely hard work particularly for Dick Rycroft and Norman Gullen but we’ve all absolutely loved being involved in such a fantastic project. We had hundreds of complements on the boat both by visitors to the show and exhibitors – there’s even talk of other stations and organisations undertaking similar projects. We’re all exhausted but wouldn’t change it for anything – meeting Olly Murs was also an added bonus!”
As a result of the incredible work carried out by everyone both before and during the show, Walter was able to announce that the total for the Floating Boathouse Appeal stands at an incredible £73,163.
To find out
more about the Boating on a Budget project go to
http://www.londonboatshow.com/2010/whats_on/attractions/boating_on_a_budget.aspx