Lifeboat station fund nears £20,000 target (From Western Telegraph)

Lifeboat station fund nears £20,000 target

WITHIN days of it being reported that about £4,000 of the target figure of £20,000 still needed to be found locally towards Tenby's new lifeboat station, more donations arrived to swell the fund.

Young Hannah Lowe and her friends handed in £100, collected from their Boxing Day swim, and The Buccaneer Hotel, Tenby, emptied its bar collecting bottle for the third time, adding £88 to the £286 customers had already raised.

Rachel Coster, from Bedford, contributed £550, earned from babysitting and other projects - which, together with the £626 she presented last July, means she has now supported the station with £1,176.

Mr and Mrs Ivor Jenkins, who have a long association with the area, sent £50, their third donation within a year.

David Fawcitt, who still returns to his native Tenby whenever possible, had taken part in an Australian 3.5 kilometre swim from Bondi Beach to Bronte and had amassed sponsorship of £1,200 for the appeal.

Amid the euphoria of this disclosure, another cheque arrived - £1,000, given by a local resident who prefers to remain anonymous, but whose kindness has touched those involved in running the appeal.

On March 21st, David Fawcitt and his wife were shown over the new lifeboat station, which his outstanding swim had helped to finance, before returning to the present boathouse to receive certificates of appreciation from Tenby Lifeboat operations manager Fred Broomhead and Tenby appeal secretary Jennie McIntosh.

A further surprise lay in store, with the couple handing over an extra £250 to help reach the goal as soon as possible.

On March 15th, Mrs Viv Kerrison, chairman of Pembroke Ladies' Lifeboat Guild, held a luncheon at Pembroke Town Hall in aid of the appeal.

She was assisted by members of her committee and the owners of The Ferry Inn, Pembroke Ferry, generously provided the main course of lasagne as their contribution.

Guest speaker Mrs Ruth Webb, of Tenby, entertained and amused the audience of nearly 70 people and the proceeds from the event will be known soon.

It is anticipated that when this final figure is paid in to the Tenby lifeboat station appeal fund, only a small sum may have to be found.

If those planning to hold Cawl for a Cause parties rally round to offer support, the goal is definitely in sight.