Mayor’s praise for volunteers following Red Bay RNLI visit
Mon, February 18, 2019
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has experienced a unique insight in to the work of local RNLI volunteers.
Councillor Brenda Chivers visited Red Bay RNLI outside Cushendall on Saturday 16th February, where she received a guided tour of the Coast Road lifeboat station and chatted with crew to understand the work of the RNLI in the area.
The station has provided search and rescue cover for over 40 years, having been first established in 1972.
After touring the facilities, the Mayor went on board the station’s All Weather Trent Class Lifeboat where crew members demonstrated its lifesaving equipment.
Speaking after her visit, the Mayor said: “The RNLI provide a vital service in locations around the Causeway Coast and Glens and this is something we should all be very grateful for. Volunteers can be called upon in the very worst of conditions when an emergency arises and often they put themselves in the face of danger to save lives. While our coastline is beautiful and serene, it can also be perilous and unforgiving and we never know when we might find ourselves in danger.
“As a coastal region we rely on the unwavering efforts of these volunteers and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for the service they provide.
“I would like to thank all the crew members who I met during my visit and I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks for all they do in keeping people safe.”
The Trent class lifeboat based at Cushendall has a top speed of 25 knots and carries a crew of six people. It can go to sea in the roughest of weathers.
Paddy McLaughlin, one of the station’s Coxswains added: “We were delighted to welcome Mayor Chivers to our station and indeed to Cushendall. Our local council maintain the slipway here and we are very grateful for their support.
The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea, and relies on donations from members of the public to fund the rescue service 24 hours per day 365 days a year around the coast of Ireland and the UK. The volunteer crews are highly trained in all aspects of lifesaving and first aid.
To find out more about the RNLI go to www.rnli.org.
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