By Ken Harcombe - Volunteer Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea. Founded by Sir William Hillary, his vision was to provide a 24/7 search and rescue service, run where possible by volunteers and funded by donations. Since its formation in 1824 – nearly 200 years ago - it has saved over 143,000 lives.
and lost control of the jet-ski. On-lookers on the pier watched in horror as the jet-ski rammed into the pier’s metal supports. The emergency services were quickly on scene and the local lifeboat crew launched immediately to help. The Blackpool RNLI volunteers quickly picked up the unconscious pair and rushed them to the waiting ambulances.
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The RNLI is incredibly fortunate and grateful to attract fund-raisers from all walks of life and through all age groups.
Above: Debbie (centre) with friends Maureen and Mel
Sadly, Ian never survived the tragic accident and Debbie spent 12 months in recuperation, following a series of major surgical operations. She returned to the lifeboat station to thank the volunteers at Blackpool on the first anniversary of the accident and met the crew who saved her life. This was the inspiration for Debbie to help those that helped her.
Easter 2003 and the Good Friday provided an opportunity for the Hales family from Bolton to enjoy quality time together at Blackpool. The family took turns on their powerful jet-ski, making the most of the early Spring sunshine. As the afternoon drew to a close, husband Ian decided to take wife Debbie for one final run along the coast.
As well as volunteering to help in the RNLI shop at Blackpool, Debbie was heavily involved in their fundraising activities and was always there when support was required. But her thoughts turned to those inland residents nearer to her home, where visits to the seaside are often carefree and without thought to the dangers and unpredictability of the sea. She saw an opportunity to increase awareness of sea safety and also to raise much needed funds.
Debbie has no recollection of what happened next, but it was reported that as the pair approached the town’s historic North Pier, Ian suffered a major heart attack
In 2018, the Blackburn and Darwen RNLI Fund-raisers started their important work. Debbie and her fellow volunteers have now raised over £30,000, despite the current
Fund-raising inspiration sometimes originates from a personal experience.
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Debbie’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. She was awarded the Excellence in Volunteering Award by the charity for her work in setting up the Blackburn and Darwen RNLI Fundraisers and the sincerest gratitude from the RNLI Chairman, Mark Dowie, in recognition of Debbie’s continued dedication to saving lives at sea. At Fleetwood RNLI, we are lucky enough to find a willing volunteer in Roy Lyons. Roy served with the RAF as Radio Operator at RAF Changai, now Changai International airport in Singapore, during the Malay Crisis. After Roy retired, he was very much aware of the work of the RNLI when out sailing. But his knowledge of the volunteer’s courage came from extensive reading and he knew he wanted to help raise funds for the charity.
he RNLI operates a professional 24/7 search and rescue service at 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland, in addition to other lifesaving initiatives, which would not be possible without donations. Over 5,000 volunteer lifeboat crew members often display unfailing courage and selflessness, whilst on rescues. However, a further 20,000 community fund-raising volunteers devote time and energy, through RNLI branches, shops, guilds and visitor centres, to ensure the money is raised to pay for the best training and equipment for crews to launch on service to help others. Other fundraisers help raise money when they can, through sponsored events.
pandemic and continue to inform the local community of sea safety.
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
So, in 1994, he joined the Knott End branch of RNLI fund-raisers and despite the occasional breaks for health reasons, has pretty much continued through to the present time. Roy lives in Knott End and despite being less than half a mile from Fleetwood by Lancashire’s only in county ferry, the Wyre Rose, it’s nearly 14 miles away when the ferry can’t sail. This didn’t deter Roy from joining the Fleetwood branch of the RNLI fundraisers in 2000, then becoming RNLI shop Treasurer, or becoming the station treasure in 2011. Roy eventually retired from the Treasury position in 2016, but continues to fund-raise when possible and is still helping out in the RNLI shop at Fleetwood.
Above: Roy Lyons with Wing Commander Paul Bell 605 Squadron
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