Former Worthing mayor provides boost to Shoreham RNLI crew

LIVES will be saved thanks to a year’s worth of fund-raising.

Former Worthing mayor, Ann Sayers, handed over a cheque to the tune to £7,921.36 to the Shoreham lifeboat crew, raised during her year as the town’s civic leader.

Ann, who completed her year at the helm in May, said: “The lifeboat crew at Shoreham do a fantastic job and they are all volunteers.

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“I like to support a local charity like the RNLI because they provide a crucial service to the community.”

A total of £35,000 was raised during Ann’s year in office, through a whole host of events, ranging from a garden party to a Valentine’s ball, a sports day and an antiques roadshow.

The money was split between her four charities of the year, the others of which were Worthing and District Alzheimer’s Society, the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home for disabled ex-servicemen and women, and the Sussex Air Ambulance.

Ann met the Shoreham lifeboat crew when she was invited out on the new Tamar-class all-weather lifeboat, Enid Collett, which arrived at the new lifeboat station in December.

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She was also a guest at the lifeboat’s royal naming and lifeboat station dedication ceremony, held last month, with guests of honour HRH The Duke of Kent and HRH Princess Alexandra.

The lifeboat crew received a second boost as a celebration ball, held to mark the opening of the new station, raised £14,000.

Shoreham lifeboat coxswain Peter Huxtable said: “We are thrilled with our new lifeboat station and wanted to celebrate its completion and the arrival of our new lifeboat with all those who have supported us.

“It was a fantastic evening and everyone said how much they enjoyed it.”

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About 260 people went along to the event, at The Grand Hotel Brighton, where they enjoyed a three-course meal with wine, magician, photographer, casino, charity auction, raffle and dancing to the live band, Max’s Taxi. Shoreham MP Tim Loughton acted as auctioneer during a charity auction.

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