Loughton's Dozen: Number 2...

A new lifeboat station for Shoreham

An appeal has been launched to raise £1 million for a new building to house Shoreham harbour lifeboat.

The slipway of the boathouse, which has been at the harbour since 1933, has started to sink under the weight of the 28-tonne Tyne-class lifeboat.
Inside, the boathouse facilities are also in need of updating. There are no changing facilities for crew members and the lower floor floods at high tide, leaving the mechanic's workshop and inshore lifeboat shed full of sea water.

The new station will include a larger boat hall, a crew training room, proper drying facilities for wet crew kit, changing facilities and a viewing platform for the public. The appeal had exceeded £300,00 0f the £1million which needs to be raised locally by December 2008. The RNLI is providing the other £5million of funds needed and of course this vital service does not receive any Government money.

Tim has been giving his full backing to the appeal and is lending a hand with fundraising. Shoreham is already one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Sussex with 72 launches needed in 2007. 

To find out more about the RNLI's £1 million Shoreham Harbour Appeal and how you can support it, visit www.rnli.org.uk/shorehamappeal, or call Tracey Harris on 01825 761466.