A FOND farewell was bid to the Solihull Branch of the RNLI as it closed after 35 years in the Borough.
Clive Buckley, Branch chairman, said age and health issues of the committee, coupled with dwindling numbers of people able to collect and a reducing number of venues willing to allow collections to take place on their premises, meant that closure was inevitable.
Before the group officially closed members met with The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Shahin Ashraf, to mark the Branch’s 35 years of fundraising in the Borough and the bi-centenary of the RNLI.
The Solihull Branch was formed in 1989, in succession to the Ladies’ Lifeboat Guild, following the successful Borough of Solihull Lifeboat Appeal that raised £41,000 for a new Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat that served at Abersoch, North Wales, from 1990 to 2002.
Over the years the Branch has specifically raised money for new crew lifejackets for Abersoch, Moelfre, Porthdinnllaen, and Pwllheli, also towards Pwllheli’s new lifeboat station and crew training at New Quay (Ceredigion), as well as the RNLI’s general funds.
Clive said “The RNLI owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the residents of Solihull for their unfailing generosity, to our small band of helpers, and all the establishments that have allowed us to collect, as well as Solihull Council for granting our annual street collection permit.
“We have raised nearly £400,000 over the 35 years and without their help this would not have been possible. I would also like to place on record my thanks to my fellow committee members (whose combined support for the RNLI amounts to 230 years) for all their help and hard work.”
