Member Article

Teeing off for lifeboat appeal

Business leaders across the North East are being asked to get out their golf clubs to help support the North East’s only independent off shore lifeboat. The Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat Service have organised a golf day on 19 July courtesy of Blyth Golf Club, to help them raise some of the £30,000 they need to provide the round the clock throughout the year coverage for those in trouble off the North East Coast.

The service was officially made part of the UK’s Maritime Search and Rescue Services in April 2005, by becoming a Declared Facility with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Since then it has launched on 16 occasions to a variety of incidents. The service relies on voluntary contributions to keep it going as it receives no statutory funding.

John Tuttiett, Media Officer and Co-founder, said: “Providing a round the clock rescue service is no easy task. We rely on our voluntary crew members turning out at all times of the day and night in all weather conditions to answer calls for help. We are grateful to many employers who also let our crew members leave their place of work when their pagers sound.”

Co-founder Ian Woodhouse said: “The truth of the matter is that what we need to run our service has to be raised by a variety of means. All of our members give their time free of charge and our crew members are prepared to put their lives at risk for no reward.”

John Tuttiett said: “Many businessmen enjoy a round of golf, so why not enjoy that round of golf, possibly win a prize but at the same time support a life saving organisation.”

For more information about the tournament or to request an application form, email bvlservice@yahoo.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .