Launching the 2026 new lifeboat appeal!
Our primary lifeboat ‘The John and Margaret Pulfer’ will come to the end of her service life in 18 months. For 12 years our Zodiac MilPro 5.4 metre RIB has served us well, attending hundreds of shouts and helping countless casualties.
We are now raising funds to purchase a new lifeboat to serve our community into the future.
Two significant goals are:
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- Replace a GRP hull with aluminium – longer lasting, easier to repair in-house and better for the environment.
- Upgrade to a larger boat to increase casualty workspace and power for increased towing capacity.
The estimated cost is around £150,000, of which we have raised 20%. If you can help, please scan the QR code or get in touch at plirbrescue@gmail.com.
Boathouse development
By the time of publication, our boathouse development should be underway – and we are so excited! The plan involves demolishing the dilapidated garage that houses our Arancia RIB and creating a single flexible space that can accommodate our boat and vehicle assets and enhance our ability to respond rapidly. Solar panels will be installed to reduce our long-term energy costs.
We appointed Bellco Constructions to complete the development and Jenco to install the solar and electrics – both are local, highly reputable firms who we look forward to working with.
We thank everyone who has made this significant milestone possible.
Our Declared Facility journey
We have reported over recent months about our journey to become a Declared Facility. Essentially this means that we are an officially recognised lifeboat asset by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Whilst we have operated and served our community for 55 years, this is robust regulation that all independent lifeboats must now comply with.
We are delighted that three years of hard work have paid off and we have secured Declared Facility status, albeit on a period of probation!
Thank you to our volunteers for their dedication and professionalism on this huge achievement.
Crew News
One of our newest trainee volunteers, Jack Pearson, has been made up to crew! Jack joined us as a keen kayaker and rapidly proved himself to be fantastic boat crew with a natural affinity. Well done Jack!
In January we visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Fareham. This is always a brilliant visit to build relationships with colleagues at HM Coastguard and understand their operations. As our tasking authority, its so important to meet the people you speak to on the radio during times of urgency.
Our thank you’s!
We appealed for two replacement glass windows to replace ones that had blown in our lookout. We were thrilled when MC Glass in Bexhill offered to replace them – we can now see properly again!
A huge thank you to Kathryn Dixson who raised £400 making Christmas decorations with all sale proceeds to us.
A massive thank you to David Dixson and Bexhill Rotary for their amazing donation of £1000 collected during their Christmas dinner.
