Foundation set up by founder of Deeside based Redrow hands Rhyl RNLI ‘massive’ donation for new Lifeboat fund

RNLI Rhyl is celebrating huge cash injection by the Steve Morgan Foundation which will go a long way towards helping the Lifeboat volunteers reach a fundraising target of £150,000 for a new Shannon class lifeboat.

The modern, state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat which is due to arrive in Rhyl next year is larger, faster, more manoeuvrable and safer giving the volunteer crews the potential to save more lives off the north Wales coast.

Fundraising was kick-started last year when Brendan O’Carroll, the star of hit BBC comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys, shocked Rhyl RNLI volunteers by announcing on stage in the Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl that he would donate £10,000 towards the Shannon-class lifeboat.

Since then, the RNLI charity has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Rhyl community who have given so generously towards the appeal which already stands at £100,000.

Denbighshire County Council Chairman Cllr Pete Prendergast said;

“The volunteers of Rhyl RNLI do such a fantastic job serving this community, I wanted to do anything I could to support their fundraising efforts.

When I heard the station had been allocated a Shannon I wrote to a number of large businesses to see if there was anything they could do to help.

I was amazed when the Steve Morgan Foundation agreed to donate £55,000, what a fantastic boost to the appeal. I now hope people continue to support the appeal to show the whole of Wales what a fantastic community we have here.”

Steve Morgan, Founder and Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation says:

“Much of my early work was undertaken in Denbighshire and over the last 10 years the Foundation has made an increasing commitment of funding to deserving causes across north Wales, with a particular focus on improving life chances for disabled and disadvantaged people.

A high proportion of our fleet of over 65 Smiley Buses has also been donated to north Wales, providing essential transport in isolated rural areas.

‘The trustees were impressed with the energy local people have dedicated to the fund-raising appeal and recognise the huge commitment made each and every day by the volunteer crew.

They have been pleased to make a substantial contribution for the new Shannon class lifeboat, which undoubtedly will save many lives.”

The new lifeboat is driven and steered by water jets instead of the conventional propellers and rudders, the Shannon can turn in her own length or stop almost instantly making going alongside a casualty to take off casualties a much safer option.

The increased speed of 25 knots as against 17 knots for the current Mersey class lifeboat on Station at Rhyl mean that casualties can be reached sooner in desperate situations where conditions are rapidly deteriorating.

The Shannon is designed for the safety of the crew, as well as rescued survivors, with better seating and full seat belt safety harnesses.

The design of the vessel’s electronics (called SIMS – Systems Information and Management Systems) with a display at all seats mean that crew members do not need to get up to change seats if changing roles in severe weather. A press of a button will allow the functions required to control the vessel to be transferred between the seating positions.