Monthly Meeting Talk by Jan Mathias Thursday 1st May
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The subject of our May Monthly Meeting was the Lifeboat Service and the talk, given by Jan Mathias, an education presenter from Milford Haven RNLI. He talk contained some of the following interesting facts & figures.
The Institution, which relies entirely on voluntary funding, was founded in 1824. Around the coast of Great Britain & Northern Island there are 334 Lifeboats, 236 lifeboat stations and 4600 staff – 95% are volunteers.
From the original concept of saving sailors lives the RNLI now has Beach Lifeguards on over 1000 beaches and 6 divisional Inland Flood Rescue teams. 328 lives were saved last year averaging 22 rescues a day.
Overall operating costs last year were £140.7m. The latest all-weather lifeboat, the Tamar class, costs £2.7m and a lifejacket £350. Little Haven Inshore Lifeboat costs £90,000 a year to run. St David’s crew have won the most Gold and Silver medals for gallantry.
Jan, an ex teacher, together with her colleagues give a beach safety training course to all Pembrokeshire Schools each year.
As the numbers of volunteers dwindle each year, Jan hopes her visits to schools help to catch the interest of even the youngest, so that the excellent work done by the RNLI can continue.
Bob Matthews Photo Jan Mathias by MW