Hoylake lifeboat Website

The sound you have just heard are of the maroons and was the traditional method of mustering the Lifeboat crew, in days gone by when the Lifeboat was launched by horses, they were released from their duties and also headed for the lifeboat station, over the years technology and health and safety issues have nearly resigned this method of calling the crew to history.

Although health and safety is top priority it has been noticed that the local community are not aware when their Lifeboat has been called.

of the Lifeboat launching into a North Westerly storm.

Young Hoylake RNLI volunteer wins coveted award

Hoylake RNLI’s youngest lifeboat volunteer has been presented with a coveted award by Lord Michael Heseltine at Liverpool John Moores University.

Daniel Whiteley, aged 18, a pupil at Calday Grange Grammar School, was awarded the LJMU Good Citizenship award for his voluntary work with the RNLI. The award, from LJMU's Foundation for Citizenship, recognises the often-overlooked contributions that young people from different cultures and communities make to society today.

Daniel received the award yesterday (Tuesday 29 April) from Lord Heseltine before the former Government minister delivered a lecture at the university.

Daniel said: ‘It was an honour to

receive this prestigious award and I felt tremendously proud to be representing Hoylake lifeboat station and the RNLI in accepting it. Too often today, young people are demonised by society but these awards seek to promote the good that is being done.

‘I joined the RNLI when I turned 17, nearly two years ago, although I had been around the Hoylake lifeboat station since I was very young, as had my older brother, James, and my dad, who himself was following in the footsteps of his father when he joined the crew over 30 years ago. The RNLI has provided me with some very unique experiences, notably launching on service into a North-Westerly force 10 and being winched into a helicopter, but I take equal pleasure from the training and the fundraising, without which such experiences would not be possible.’

He was nominated for the award by his head teacher, Andrew Hall, who said Daniel is a great ambassador for both Calday Grange Grammar School and the RNLI.

He added: ‘Daniel sets an excellent example for pupils in lower years. His academic achievement is outstanding and he is a key member of the School Council and the Languages Society. We are very happy to support him in his volunteering for the RNLI and allow him to carry his pager to make sure he does not miss a lifeboat call when he is at school.’

Daniel’s father Dave is Coxswain of Hoylake RNLI lifeboat and his brother James is also on the crew. As well as volunteering together to save lives at sea, they are all involved in helping raise vital funds for the Ł2M RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station Appeal. Daniel has recruited fellow Calday Grange Grammar School pupils in fundraising for the appeal, which will part fund a new lifeboat station and lifeboat for Hoylake.

Anthony Hannay, a member of the RNLI’s Council and Chairman of the RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station Appeal, said: ‘I am three-times thrilled about this award: thrilled for Daniel that his good work has been recognised by his own school and LJMU; thrilled that the RNLI attracts good young people like Daniel to help with its life saving work and thrilled that the RNLI’s volunteer services have been honoured by association with this award to Daniel. We hear too little of the good things that young people are doing in their communities. I am so pleased that Daniel is one who is committed to his community and that LJMU “blows a trumpet” for him and its other awardees.’

For more information or to contribute to the appeal, call 0845 650 3999, log on to rnli.org.uk/hoylakeappeal or send a donation to RNLI Hoylake Appeal, Admail 4049, Hoylake, CH47 1AA.

Work on the new Lifeboat Station at Hoylake is continuing with the building of this vital new facility, which will eventually house the new replacement for the present Station Lifeboat.

This new Lifeboat is being developed to replace the Mersey Class Lifeboat, "The Lady of Hilbre". The replacement is expected to be faster than the present craft and maintain the status of All Weather Lifeboat, which will continue to cover the approaches to both the River Dee and the River Mersey and therefore the approaches to the major port of Liverpool.

2007 was the busiest year in Hoylake stations history, the Lifeboat being called out twenty four times. The Hoylake Station is delighted with the news and look forward to the new facilities, which will allow Hoylake crews to carry on into the future, with even greater efficiency, the two hundred year old tradition of saving lives at sea.