St Davids RNLI fundraisers presented an impressive £135,056 cheque at the station's AGM last week.

This represents various donations and money generated through fundraising events held over the past year, most of which has been raised as part of the New Boathouse Appeal.

Since the last AGM there had been 45 lifeboat launches – 18 for the Tamar class all weather boat, seven for the Tyne all-weather boat and 20 for the D-class inshore lifeboat.

The most noteworthy launches were the rescue of three yachtsmen in gale force winds and rough seas in early April and the long search for crew members from the fishing vessel Harvester at the end of April, when 22 crew members took part in the search over three days with more than 200 man hours spent at sea.

An update was given on the progress of works to the new lifeboat station at St Justinians. It is anticipated that the new station will become operational in early September.

Station operations manager James Wilcox thanked the lifeboat crew for their work over the past 12 months and noted the tremendous support from the local community for the fundraising appeal.

The newly appointed chairman Roy Thomas MBE, who succeeded the late chairman Jeffrey Davies thanked the fundraisers for all their hard work during the year and the branch officials for their work in ensuring that the station continues to run smoothly, also appointed at the AGM was John Bateman as vice chairman.