Last week, the volunteer crew of Portrush RNLI in Northern Ireland presented a certificate of thanks signed by RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes to representatives of Portrush Yacht Club (PYC).
For many years PYC has supported the Portrush lifeboat crew, helping with events, providing a venue for training events and hosting crew celebrations, and generally supporting the station, crew and fundraising teams.
On Monday morning 20 January, lifeboat operations manager Beni McAllister, accompanied by coxswains Dave Robinson, Karl O’Neill, Johnny Weston and crew member Tim Nelson, handed over the signed certificate of thanks to PYC general manager Karl Simmonds and treasurer Alistair Morgan.
Last year, the committee of PYC stepped in to run the long-running Portrush RNLI Raft Race after the previous committee stood down.
McAllister said: “Portrush Yacht Club have always had a close relationship with the station in terms of hosting evens and celebrations, giving us accommodation for training events that we would otherwise have to pay for, and hosting fundraising events such as Raft Race and now the ever-popular Santa and SOS Swims — important fundraising events for the RNLI.
“We are very lucky to have them on our doorstep and we are delighted to hand over this certificate as a recognition of their longstanding support.”
Simmonds added: “We are proud to have this association with Portrush RNLI and are honoured to receive this framed certificate of thanks from the RNLI.
“We are very community focussed and happy to be able to provide the facilities for the station for training and fundraising events. We value our longstanding relationship with the RNLI and looking forward to hosting future events.”
The next event organised by PYC’s Swimming Section is the SOS (Swim Our Severn) Swim on Saturday 25th January. Registration is at 2pm at the yacht club with refreshments and a raffle in the clubhouse after the swim.
