In March we held our annual Co-op collection in Woodbridge which was a huge success, bringing in £775.13. The Dog in Grundisburgh held a quiz, raising £100. In April we organised a collection at Notcutts which raised £389.85 and following this was a quiz at Deben Yacht Club, where we took £244.

In May we held a collection at Tesco in Martlesham, which yielded fantastic results generating £890.77 in donations. We were also invited to attend The Suffolk Show which was a brilliant two day event, raising £952.08 – and where we are set to become a regular fixture.

June saw us venturing further afield to the market town of Framlingham, where we raised £365.12 at the Co-op, followed by a collection outside Debenham Co-op raising £307. Later that month was Woodbridge Regatta, which coincided with Father’s Day, where we collected £496.36.

In August, we were invited to Woodbridge Model Boat Club, where the skill and level of craftmanship were clear to see, raising £131.73. At the end of August, we were delighted to be asked to participate in Walberswick Village Fete, which despite the odd torrential downpour, was an excellent event, raising £429.85.

Woodbridge Christmas Street Fair was held in December, raising £440.60 and our thanks to the team at Fenn Wright in Felixstowe who raffled a hamper in aid of the RNLI, raising £380.

We were pleased to be selling RNLI cards in the Charity Card Shop in the Thoroughfare which was superbly organised by Roger Parker of Woodbridge 41 Club as usual. It was a special one last year as they hit £1 million pounds raised for 55 charities, since it began over 30 years ago.

RNLI Woodbridge are pleased to have teamed up with Robertsons Boatyard, who have undertaken the careful restoration of the ‘Sarah Ann Austin’ lifeboat. They are running river trips, with a percentage of their turnover being donated to the RNLI, and this is one of the few commercial vessels powered solely by electricity and operating on a tidal river in the UK.

Tony Wilman, Chairman of RNLI Woodbridge commented “I would like to thank all of the establishments and businesses who have collection boxes, and particularly East of England Co-op and Haven Ports Yacht Club for their continued support.

Thank you to all of those who donated and to those who showed such generosity for the charity who save lives at sea, given the financial climate. Finally, thank you to my fellow committee members and our trusted team of volunteers who work hard to make this possible.”

Upcoming local RNLI events include The Suffolk Show, Woodbridge Regatta, Flag Day and a Tesco collection. For more information, or if you would like to sign up to volunteer, visit http://www.rnliwoodbridge.org.uk/ or contact Tony Wilman on 01394 387173