Annual Report for 2021
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2021
Covid-19 continues
2020
With Dave Beer having completed his fundraising walk, although the Just giving page will remain open until the end of July for further donations another North Nibley resident, Shaun Willey, is running 100 miles in July and also fundraisng.
Thank you
Raising Funds for the Lifeboats – Five Peaks Challenge
Our Intrepid fundraiser completed his challenge successfully yesterday with some downpours, but no thunderstorms, and not too hot!
Photographs at each peak below.
Stinchcombe Hill
Breakheart Hill
Coombe Hill
Wotton Hill
Nibley Knoll
Fundraising continued until September and reached (includuding Gift Aid) £1216.75 .
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The RNLI is still saving lives at sea, but is struggling for funds, as we rely entirely on public support through donations, and all fund-raising events by local branches and lifeboat stations that would have involved people congregating together have been suspended.
For many years, in April, RNLI Dursley Branch has held its Five Peaks Challenge, a well-supported, and very successful organised walk, to raise money for the lifeboats and their crews. However, this year, the event was cancelled like so many others because of Covid - 19.
One of our local supporters, who would normally have taken part, has decided to do his own version of the Five Peaks Challenge in July to raise funds for the RNLI. He has planned a circular route, starting from his home in North Nibley and covering Stinchcombe Hill; Breakheart Hill; Coombe Hill; Wotton Hill; and Nibley Knoll. The estimated total distance is 14km (8.8miles).
This will occur in early July and You can play your part by supporting his efforts by sponsoring: Simplest method of donating is through the Just Giving Page
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase the value of your donation by 25p in the pound (at no extra cost to yourself) by completing a Gift Aid Declaration – details on justgiving website
E-mail: dursley.rnli@btinternet.com
Also see Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Dursley.RNLI.Five.Peaks.Walk
2019
Thursday 28th March was the date for our 2019 talk which will once again be at Cotswold Edge Golf Club. This time by an Animator from Aardman Animations. Click here for further details.
2018
Our talk on Clifton Suspension Bridge was on Tuesday 6th March.
The venue being Cotswold Edge Golf Club.
2017
Update - December 2017
Guest Speaker Evening - Tuesday 6th March 2018
Next year’s Guest Speaker evening will be held at the Cotswold Edge Golf Club on Tuesday 6th March when Gordon Young, a volunteer tour-guide at the Clifton Suspension Bridge, will present an illustrated talk about this iconic world symbol of Bristol. The talk will embrace the early history, troubled financial matters resulting in construction being abandoned, eventual completion, and celebratory opening, plus lively little-known anecdotes of its subsequent history. Along the way, Gordon will show 'props' relating to the bridge and demonstrate (with audience participation, how the chains support the bridge.
In March, the Branch will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of our founding at a meeting in the Pear Tree, Charfield on 17th March 1993. Our roles as a branch are:
To raise money – not just through our own efforts, but also by providing support to others who fund-raise locally for the RNLI. (Two examples of the latter are an annual open garden event in Cromhall and a recent and most enjoyable Sea Shanty Evening organised by a small group of RNLI supporters in North Nibley – see photo below).
To promote the RNLI and its objectives (including water safety messages)
Since we were founded, we have raised very nearly £140,000 for the RNLI. This is not bad for a small inland branch in an area lacking supermarkets or other amenities that draw crowds. However, our Treasurer keeps us from becoming big-headed by identifying the number of hours this equates to, based on the RNLI’s annual operating costs. (So far, the number has increased each year, but it has yet to reach double figures!)
Around 190 people lose their lives at the UK and Irish coasts each year, and over half never even planned to enter the water. The RNLI aims to halve the number of accidental coastal deaths by 2024, not only through its rescue service, but also by promoting greater awareness of water safety.
Around half the people who die at the coast slip, trip, or fall into the water. They never intend to get wet.
One direct cause of death is Cold Water Shock - which can steal the air from your lungs and leave you helpless in seconds. It is triggered at water temperatures below 15oC, and the average temperature of UK and Irish waters is only 12⁰C.
The natural instinct is to struggle – but this only makes matter worse.
If you find yourself unexpectedly in cold water, you need to FLOAT:
Fight your instinct to panic or swim hard
Lean back in the water to keep your airway clear
Open your body up; extend your arms and legs, pushing your stomach up
Actions; gently move your hands and feet to keep your head afloat
Time: in 40 – 90 seconds, you will be able to control your breathing
Further information on keeping safe and on what to do if you get into difficulty is available on the RNLI website at: https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water
Our Chairman has several illustrated talks to adult groups booked for the New Year, including 2 each in Wotton and North Nibley, but there are still have plenty of free dates for any other group interested in a talk on any aspect of the RNLI (or other maritime topics). There is no charge for these talks, but a donation or collection for the RNLI will not be refused!
There are also a few school visits arranged to talk about the RNLI and / or water safety, but again there are plenty of free dates and also other Education Volunteers upon whom to call. So, if you are a teacher (or youth organisation leader) who would like a visit from an RNLI Education Volunteer to talk with your children about the RNLI and / or water safety – please make contact.
John Barnett (e-mail: jabwrnli@gmail.com; Tel: 01453 844709) or via 'Contact Us'
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Huge thanks for a memorable evening organised by Alison and Dave Beer to raise funds - £460.75 - for the RNLI in North Nibley on Saturday 25th November. A Fish & Chip supper with entertainment from the Frampton Shantymen was enjoyed by all. A guest appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow topped off the event. Thank you from us all.
2015
On the 26th April a full house of 100 people came along to hear Andy Wyatt tell us about “A Year in the Life of the Red Arrows”.
Andy’s talk covered the history of Aerobatic display teams, the aircraft, the recruitment process, the roles within the Red Arrows and a typical day during the display team.
As you would expect,he had some amazing photographs and videos to illustrate the talk. He also had some incredible stories to share with us on his experiences, including one where his aircraft engine failed en route to a display and he, and his ground crew passenger in the back, had to prepare to eject.
As luck would have it, there was an old RAF airfield nearby and he managed to put down safely, hop into another aircraft that accompanied him in and, leaving his broken plane in the hands of the ground crew, take off to re-join the other aircraft and take part in the display using the spare.
The consensus was that it was a fantastic talk and that Andy was an extremely interesting speaker.
A raffle was also held during the night, with one prize being a teddy bear in a Red Arrows flying suit.
This was kindly donated to an eight year old whose ambition is to be a Red Arrows Pilot and arrived on the night in her own red flying suit, so making her day.
Altogether, the night raised the fantastic amount of £1193.00 for the RNLI.
2014
Seventy seven supporters attended the talk given by mountaineer and British Antarctic Survey team leader Pete Milner.
He described what it is like to work in the Antarctic and showed some stunning photographs of the scenery and wildlife.
The talk raised the fantastic total of £922 which will go towards the RNLI's newest and what will be our closest Lifeboat Station at Portishead.
Thanks to Westward Travel and Cotswold Book Room for selling the tickets and to the Cotswold Edge Golf Club for allowing us to use the clubhouse.
The AGM was held on 25th February at the Star Inn, Wotton-under-Edge.
Our first event of the year was to be a talk by Peter Milner, "Surviving an Antarctic Winter" at Cotswold Edge Golf club on Thursday 10th April.
Pete Milner is an highly experienced polar explorer, mountaineer, survival specialist, writer, photographer and now professional speaker.
2013
Our Treasurer, Andrew, took part in the 2013/14 ‘Clipper Round the World’ race.
The complete race being 40,000 miles in 8 legs.
Andrew was part of the crew for legs 3 and 8.
He was onboard Qingdao. www.clipperroundtheworld.com/teams/Qingdao for details.
20 Crew at any one time plus the Skipper.
The Race of my Life - Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2013/14
Andrew said: "Some people may say I'm having a mid-life crisis but those who know me will realise that I passed my mid-life a long time ago. So what am I going to do?
I am going to take part in a Round the World Yacht Race.
I'm not going to go all the way around the world (Can't afford the cost or the time!),
but I am going to do 2 legs, one in November this year and the second in June/July 2014.
This year's leg is one of the most challenging as I will be sailing between Cape Town in South Africa and Albany, Western Australia, which will take most of the month of November.
Next year's leg will be the final leg of the the race, the Glory Leg as it's known, between New York and the finish in the Thames Estuary.
I have decided to raise money for 2 separate charities whilst doing these legs.
As my first leg starts from South Africa I thought it fitting that I raise money for a South African charity.
Consequently, I have selected the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund UK (NMCF) as the beneficiary.
The NMCF was started by Nelson Mandela on becoming President to help the children of South Africa which they do in many different ways (for more information please see their website at www.mandela-children.org.uk).
If you would like to help me raise money for the NMCF please go to my 'Just Giving' webpage, which raised £730.00.
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The talk by Captain John Harper at Cotswold Edge Golf Club on February 28th raised the magnificent total of £1013.
Special thanks to Cotswold Bookroom and Westward Travel for selling tickets.
The intention is for this sum to be earmarked for Portishead Lifeboat Station - if it gets the go-ahead.
2012
During 2012, our 20th year of existence, the branch raised £6308.63, which takes our total since the branch was formed to £109885.54.
The weather had a lot to answer for during the year as many of our greater fundraising opportunities were either washed out, blown away or cancelled!
We look forward to better weather during the Summer of 2013.
