The National Association of Round Tables of  Great Britain and Ireland has supported the RNLI since the 1970s, funding 10 lifeboats. Now it has made the RNLI its Presidential Charity of the Year, May 2010–11.

The partnership, which aims to raise over £150,000, was launched at the Round Table’s national conference, where guests of honour included RNLI Crew Members Nick Botham from Whitby and David Warburton from Blackpool.

President of the Association John Kilshaw explains: ‘Our social movement gives men a place to make friends and exchange ideas while doing good in the community. So I wanted to support a charity that covers Great Britain and Ireland, relates to our members and affects each and every one of us. Even the average crew member’s age is similar to that of a Round Tabler.’

In 1977, the Round Table funded the Waveney class Louis Marchesi of Round Table. During the next 20 years, she and her crews saved 264 lives while serving at Newhaven, Alderney, Exmouth, Ramsgate and Courtmacsherry Harbour. The last B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat ever built, Falmouth Round Table, served from 1994 to 2007, saving 32 lives and rescuing 341 others.

Now, John is encouraging his members to support crew training: ‘My aim is to raise enough money to offset the cost of training at least 100 volunteer crew members from across the UK and RoI for 1 year, and to support one inshore lifeboat course and one sea survival course.’ Fundraising will be carried out by Round Table’s 5,850 members based at 575 clubs. For more information, please see rnli.org.uk/roundtable.