11 October 2007
A cheque for more than £32,000.00 will be handed over to the Eastbourne Branch of the RNLI. The cheque represents the money raised by Councillor Colin Belsey during his year as Mayor of Eastbourne in 2006/2007.
Councillor Colin Belsey says, “I am delighted and amazed at the sum of money we managed to raise during the Mayoral Year. The input from the people of Eastbourne to the local Lifeboat seems to have touched so many. It goes to prove once again that we are a nation of givers at heart and the people of Eastbourne have proved that.”
“Boxing Day at a very cold Bandstand raised over £1,000 in two hours and the Morris Men were the only ones who were warm! The support from local clubs, schools and numerous other organisations has been out of this world and Anna, the former Mayoress, did her bit by raising a substantial amount from her own events. I thank the people of Eastbourne from the bottom of my heart - you have all helped to make what was a lovely year to a fantastic one, thank you.”
This is the largest amount of money raised during a Mayoral Year by one Mayor. During the past year Councillor Belsey has attended many events, fetes and has also held a Charity Ball. His daughter, Anna, parachuted out of an aeroplane at 10,000 feet and held a Halloween party at one of Eastbourne’s nightclubs.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Metcalfe, says, “We are very proud and pleased to have been chosen as the Mayor's Charity during his year in office. It has been an absolute pleasure to have supported the Mayor and Mayoress throughout the year in raising this very large sum of money. This donation is a tremendous boost to the funding in running an RNLI Lifeboat Service here in Eastbourne and the saving life of the Sussex coast".
The RNLI's running costs average around £335,000 a day. It costs more than £1100 to purchase all weather clothing for an all weather lifeboat crew member. The new D-class inshore lifeboat that went on service in 2003 would now cost more than £29,000 to replace.
Councillor Belsey will hand over the cheque at the Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club on October 16th at 7.30pm.
