Hirst club effort tops ÃÂ£10,000 in ten years

Posted by The Journal on Mar 26, 09 03:17 PM in Clubs/Societies

A fundraising campaign sparked by a maritime tragedy on the Northumberland coastline a decade ago has topped the ÃÂ£10,000 mark.

Over the last 10 years members of the Hirst Progressive Social Club in Ashington have dedicated themselves to raising vital funds for the RNLI lifeboat station and its volunteer crew at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Mary Joicey Lifeboat, Newbiggin

The campaign was launched after one of the club members lost a relative who was swept out to sea and drowned while angling near a large outfall pipe in Cambois Bay in 1998.

A major search and rescue operation was launched - including the Newbiggin lifeboat - but failed to save the man.

Since then, as a gesture of thanks for the efforts of the lifeboat crew, club members have held events such as collections and darts competitions, and handed over an annual cheque to the station.

Now the total has topped the ÃÂ£10,000 mark after members Bill Gratex and Colin Murray handed over the latest ÃÂ£800 donation to Newbiggin lifeboat officials Les Fayers and Richard Martin.

Mr Martin, pictured above, who is station mechanic at Newbiggin, said the dedication and effort of the volunteer rescuers involved in the 1998 incident had spurred club members to support the RNLI.

"These club members are not unique in raising money over many years for our lifeboat, but the circumstances which led them to do this are probably unique. This was a personal family tragedy, but the people involved appreciated what we did on the day it happened.

"Every year we have received at least one cheque or donation from the club as a result of fundraising.

"To do it consistently for 10 years, and to have now topped the ÃÂ£10,000 mark, has to be really applauded.

"They are showing no sign of abating in their quest to support the lifeboat and we are extremely grateful to them.."

Mr Martin said the money raised by the Hirst Progressive Club goes towards Newbiggin station funds, including the costs of training crew members of its Atlantic 75-class inshore lifeboat.

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