New crew members to join fellow RNLI volunteers at Rhyl Lifeboat Station

The new crew members will join fellow RNLI volunteers at Rhyl in being ready to swap turkey and tinsel for turbulent seas this Christmas.

Over the festive period, many will leave their loved ones behind to answer the call, each time hoping to reunite another family, and see those in trouble at sea safely returned. Over the past decade, RNLI lifeboats have launched over 1,200 times during the festive period.
The charity is now launching its Christmas appeal and Rhyl RNLI is appealing for support to enable all their crew to continue saving lives.

Over the past five festive periods, RNLI lifeboats in Wales and the North West have launched nearly 100 times, with 49 people aided over the Christmas period.
Alongside, RNLI volunteers at Rhyl who are no strangers to Christmas on call, this year six new recruits will have pagers by their side during their first festive season as crew members.

Adam Jones-Booth, Craig Kelly, Harry Clews, Jack Blanchard (not pictured), James Strauch and Rosa Tomassi-Bella all joined the crew at Rhyl RNLI this year. Each with very different reasons for joining they’ve all become important members of the volunteer crew at Rhyl and are looking forward to their first festive period as crew.

James Strauch will be celebrating with his partner Claire who works for the NHS with his pager on the dining table as both of them will be on call.

For Rosa Tomassi-Bella, this Christmas will be her first as crew with her husband Kelvin. Rosa moved to Rhyl three years ago to be with Kelvin and he proposed to her at Rhyl RNLI’s annual Festive Dip on Boxing Day after they’d both braved the cold water. This Christmas Rosa will be volunteer crew for the festive dip so will be fully suited in her RNLI dry suit.

All of the crew at Rhyl RNLI, new and old, like RNLI stations up and down the UK, will be on call 24 hours a day over the festive period ready to launch to help anyone in need.

But these rescues would not be possible without donations from the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews all year round.

Martin Jones, Coxswain at Rhyl RNLI, said:

‘Even at Christmas, our lifesavers are ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice and rush to the aid of someone in trouble on the water. At this time of year, the weather’s at its worst and lives are on the line.

‘We know that every time our crews go out they hope for a good outcome, but sadly this sometimes isn’t the case. There’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families – especially at Christmas. As lifeboat crew we couldn’t rescue people without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our families.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

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