In November Southend lifeboat station celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first Christmas crew dinner. The event attracted some 500 guests to the Cliff Pavilion, Southend and raised £6.130 for lifeboat funds.

Cllr Jean Dunn, Mayor of Southend (centre), paid tribute to the lifeboat crews and Michael Vlasto, RNLI chief of operations (right), presented long service awards to retired fifeboatmen Roy West, John Fosset and Nigel Abbot. The event also featured a tombola and raffle, a demonstration of foul weather and safety equipment, and comedian Mike Pugh..