January 27 2013.


The national RNLI 'SOS' fundraising day on Friday the 25th of January was celebrated locally at Newhaven Lifeboat House with the annual 'Slurp Our Soup' event. The visitors to the Lifeboat House at West Quay on the cold winter's day were welcomed with warming soup and cheese rolls.

The first fundraising event of the year organised by Newhaven & District Lifeboat Society was very successful, raising a total of £302.72. The cost of hosting the event was mainly funded by Veolia Environmental Services, with the bread rolls being generously supplied by Graham Southgate of La Baguette Shop bakery in Newhaven. Donations were also received from Sainsbury's Supermarket in Newhaven, Tesco Supermarket in Lewes and Morrisons Supermarket in Seaford for the purchase of raffle prizes, ensuring that the event was supported by the whole district and a resounding success.

The lifeboat has already been called out numerous times so far this year and with the annual cost of maintaining the Newhaven Lifeboat at approximately £78,000, the monies raised will contribute towards the on-going cost of the training and supply of the vital equipment required by the volunteer lifeboat crew to continue saving lives at sea, in rivers and on the waterways. 

Contact Paula and Graham Hillman, secretaries for Newhaven & District Lifeboat Society, at rnlinewhaven.society@hotmail.co.uk for details of further fundraising events being organised by the Society.