Leading national builders’ merchant Jewson has donated £5,000 towards Freshwater’s new lifeboat. Jewson has partnered with the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat (FILB) Service to fund an Atlantic 85 lifeboat, which was revealed and officially named ‘The Jillian Scott’ at an event at the organisation’s Freshwater Bay station on Saturday 6th July. The naming ceremony was performed by UK Special Forces Soldier Jason Fox, from TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins. Attendees also had the chance to meet the FILB crew and enjoy live music and food and drinks. Founded by local members of the community in 1972, the Freshwater Lifeboat Station is on call to HM Coastguard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The FILB’s station covers an area up to 30 miles offshore from Hurst Point to St Catherine’s Point. The service is not part of the RNLI and doesn’t receive funding from the RNLI or the government, meaning its operations are entirely funded by the local community via a mix of donations, local business sponsorship – like that from Jewson – and local community grants. Paul Swain, General Manager for Jewson on the Isle of Wight, has said:
“Jewson works at the heart of local communities, and with five branches on the island, we know how crucially important the service provided by the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat station is. The new Atlantic 85 will act as a vital facility for ensuring the safety of people at sea, and we’ll continue to support the FILB moving forwards as they continue to deliver such essential services to those living on and visiting this beautiful island.”
Barry Sales, Chairman of the FILB, adds:
“The contribution made by Jewson not only helps us financially but also cements a new link between our organisation and the local branch of a nationwide business, which gives us greater credibility in our operational goals. “Although our role is very much about supporting our local community, this latest addition to our lifeboat fleet also serves to support the high numbers of holiday makers that visit the island and enjoy our coast. As such, Jewson’s support is gratefully received.”
