The September 2005 meeting of the Downs Lodge No.6855 made several donations to charities in Deal and the surrounding areas. One of those donations was £250 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

The Grand Charity, recognising the RNLI as a National Charity matched the amount donated by the Downs Lodge. The cheque from Grand Charity was presented
to the RNLI at Walmer Lifeboat Station by WBro Bryn Limbrick on Sunday 5th March 2006 just after the Lifeboat had returned ashore from a training exercise at sea.

The RNLI relies entirely upon donations and legacies to fund the lifesaving operations, indeed the sole aim of the RNLI is to save lives at sea. The crew and shore-helpers at Walmer Lifeboat Station are all volunteers. It is noticeable that fewer volunteers come forward nowadays with sea going experience, partly because of the decline in the fishing industry, so there is an emphasis on training to provide sea-going skills.

Walmer Lifeboat Station has two inshore lifeboats, a ‘D Class’ for working closely along the shore and particularly under the cliffs at St. Margaret’s Bay. The other, an Atlantic 21, is capable of 30 knots and can get to and work amongst the shallow waters of the Goodwin Sands quickly. The Walmer boats cover the area between the larger lifeboats at Dover and Ramsgate.

The RNLI in general and Walmer Lifeboat Station in particular would like to thank the Downs Lodge and the Grand Charity for their kind thought and generosity.

Further information can be obtained from: John Turgoose,Walmer Lifeboat Press Officer 01304 367352

WBro John Turgoose
Foreland Lodge No.3209.

From Ed44, P2