10:58am Thursday 2nd September 2010
By Will Carson
YOU could not put a price on the life-saving work they do.
But in order to ensure their vital service stays afloat, the Hamble Independent Lifeboat crew is looking to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for a new base.
The team is currently being forced to work from a lifeboat station that is no more than a shed and too small to store the boats without having to take two hours to dismantle them first.
Without hot water, heating or changing facilities, the tiny shack is holding back crew from recruiting new members and training in the winter.
Demand for the service is increasing, having raced to 100 emergency call-outs already this year, making it more important than ever to have a fully functioning base.
So the crew has launched an appeal to raise £450,000 to demolish the shed and the neighbouring public toilets, to build one new building, complete with changing rooms, training space and storage.
Andy Olden, chief coxswain, told the Daily Echo: “Having a fully functioning new lifeboat station is critical for the service and to ensure we can continue our work effectively.
“At the moment the boat takes up all the room in the station, forcing us to train outside throughout the year, sometimes in freezing conditions.
“With no heating or hot water, the crew is forced to wash down in the sea, which can be rather cold after a 3am call-out in the winter.
“Not having adequate facilities deters potential new recruits from signing up and as we are getting more and more call outs every year, new recruits is vital for this service.”
The charity, which is totally independent from the RNLI and receives no Government funding, will be drawing up a calendar of fundraising events to get the money rolling in.
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