Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, showed his support for the local Rayleigh Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), when they paraded their own large model lifeboat at the recent Community Fun Day, held at the Rayleigh Leisure Centre on Temple Way, off Rawreth Lane.
Mark, who has been a regular supporter for the local RNLI Branch for many years – and who has been out fundraising with them on a number of occasions in the past – was delighted to meet up with the team again and see their model of a Tyne Class Lifeboat, which they used as part of their fundraising display at the successful event.
The local branch of the RNLI helps to raise funds to support lifeboat stations all around the UK coastline, including the lifeboat station in Southend, which covers the Thames Estuary and is one of the busiest stations in the country. The Southend Lifeboat is regularly launched to help swimmers who have got into trouble off the beach in Southend and also helps to recover boats and vessels in difficulty in the wider Estuary.
Commenting on his support for the fundraisers, Mark said:
“I know the team from the Rayleigh RNLI well; they do wonderful work to help raise funds for this vital service, that helps to save lives at sea. Their model might not be ‘Boaty McBoatface’, but nevertheless, it is a popular representation of a lifeboat and helps to remind members of the public of the wonderful service that our lifeboatmen and women provide, not least at our own local lifeboat station in Southend. I have rattled a tin or a bucket for the local RNLI on a number of occasions down the years, so I was pleased to have this opportunity to support them again at the Community Fun Day, where I gather they raised a bob or two for this very worthwhile cause. They have my continued support in the future.”
