Members of Burnham on Crouch Lifeboat Station gathered together with supporters from across the county at the Queens Head Public House, to launch the ‘Burnham Boathouse Appeal’.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Sir Richard Rycroft Bt. welcomed everyone to the event and explained why Burnham RNLI is launching the Appeal.

In 2011, Burnham RNLI will take delivery of a faster, more capable Atlantic 85 Lifeboat, which will replace the current 13 year old Atlantic 75. The new Lifeboat has already been paid for by an extremely generous donor, however as it is larger that the current one, it will require a new floating boathouse to accommodate it.

Mayor Mrs Carol Noble (pictured above left) was presented with a cheque, on behalf of Burnham RNLI for £5,000 from Danyal Adams, Director of Fambridge Yacht Haven and Burnham RNLI Crew Member.

In a proactive move Yacht Havens Group is introducing their berth holders to membership of the RNLI. For those boat owners who take out an annual berth for 2009 at any one of the Group’s eight marinas around the UK they will receive complimentary membership of the RNLI for their first year. Berth holders are then encouraged to continue with this membership and offer financial support for many years to come.

Ray Clark, BBC Essex Radio Presenter and Patron of the Boathouse Appeal then received the cheque on behalf of the Appeal and pledged his support to the cause.

Jim Morton, Landlord of the Queens Head and fervent supporter of Burnham RNLI supplied nibbles and light bites to eat and Gray & Sons and Peter Watts Wines kindly donated refreshments of the liquid variety!

Jim announced that since hearing about the Boathouse Appeal he had initiated the ‘Win a Gallon of Beer’ Competition. He then presented Walter Jenkins, Burnham RNLI Treasurer with a cheque for £100 towards the Appeal and vowed to continue supporting the Station.

All that was left was to enjoy the rest of the warm evening when suddenly the crew were alerted by their pagers and went dashing off to another emergency, leaving their wives, families - and drinks behind!

Pictured above right are Ray Clark BBC Essex Radio Presenter and Patron of the Burnham Boathouse Appeal, Danyal Adams Dir. Fambridge Yacht Haven, Mrs Barbara Chapman Donor of Burnhams IB1 Lifeboat, Mayor Mrs Carol Noble, Walter Jenkins RNLI Treasurer, Mr David Chapman, Sir Richard Rycroft Bt Lifeboat Operations Manager and Jim Morton Landlord of the Queens Head Public House and Supporter of Burnham RNLI.

NB Photographs credited to Keith Williams, Burnham Review