Words: Anna Burn. Photos: Nicholas Leach, RNLI/(Penarth, Porthdinllaen, Norma Stockford, Vicky Walmsley-Williams, Charlie Williams)

Welcome to your community news for Wales. For all the latest from where you are, head to RNLI.org/news

Porthcawl/Moelfre

BRAVERY AWARDS

Leuan Walmsley- Williams (pictured right) , a student at Porthcawl Comprehensive, has been honoured as the winner of Bridge FM’s Bravery Award – one of its Young Achiever Awards. Leuan has been a volunteer crew member for just over a year, following in his father, Andrew’s, footsteps. Lifeboat Management Group Chair Ian Stroud says: ‘I had no hesitation in nominating Leuan.’ And if you watched last year’s Saving Lives at Sea, you may well have been moved to tears watching the bravery of Joe Rowlands as he saved his dad’s life in a kayaking incident off the coast of Anglesey. Joe’s courage was recognised at the Pride of Britain Awards in October and again when the 14-year-old received a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the 2019 New Year Honours list. He is pictured with his dad.

Porthdinllaen

Cook donated in memory

A new training mannequin has been purchased by Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Station after donations were received from the family of the late Chris Dobson from Nefyn. Chris, who passed away after a brave battle with cancer, was well known in the community. ‘Chris was a local lad and was known personally to the crew,’ says Dylan Thomas, on
behalf of Porthdinllaen RNLI. ‘We are ever so grateful to Chris’s family for the donation, which has made it possible to purchase such valuable training equipment.’ Chris’s wife Brenda and children Tomos and Beca fundraised for the mannequin, whom they nicknamed Cook, over the course of several evenings. Brenda says: ‘Chris had a special love for the sea and local beach. We are glad to be able to assist as worthy a cause as the RNLI in Chris’s memory.’

Rhyl

Dance school adds to appeal

Whitton-Morris School of Dancing presented a cheque for £1,000 to Rhyl RNLI when their weekly line dancing class in Prestatyn was gate-crashed by lifeboat crew members in November. The station’s Mersey class lifeboat is coming to the end of its working life after 27 years and will be replaced by a state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat. Lifeboat Operations Manager Darrel Crowther gratefully accepted the donation, which will boost the station’s Shannon Appeal fund.

Penarth

MODEL BEHAVIOUR

The second annual Penarth Fashion Week catwalked its way to a stunning total of £16,163 for the RNLI in October.
The event included movie screenings, a Bollywood dinner and dance, catwalk shows featuring RNLI-inspired dress and swimsuit designs, and a black-tie dinner at the lifeboat station – which was turned into a fashion house and fine-dining restaurant for the occasion. Organisers and RNLI Penarth Fundraising Committee Members Caroline Eva and Sara Siddall say: ‘We are absolutely thrilled at the support we have received for the second Penarth Fashion Week. The amount raised for the RNLI is absolutely fantastic. So many businesses have given their time and generous gifts as raffle prizes. We could not have achieved such an event without their support.’

Barmouth

WEDDING PRESENTS

When Jenny Page and Nick Evans tied the knot last year they used their special day in a unique way – as an opportunity to collect donations of over £450 for Barmouth Lifeboat Station. Jenny says: ‘I’ve been coming to Barmouth for family holidays for years and have long been an admirer of the RNLI. My husband and I are very happy to be able to help support this wonderful organisation in this way.’

WHAT’S ON

Mayday events will be happening throughout Wales in May.
Visit RNLI.org/mayday to get involved.

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