The Redcar RNLI lifeboat station has 'putt' over 300 pounds into its coffers, thanks to the generosity of the town's golfers.

The lifeboat station was chosen by the captain of Cleveland Golf Club to receive the money, raised during his Captain's Day, held at the famous links course at Redcar on Saturday 25 June.

Keith Cooper, club captain, chose the RNLI after a lifetime combining golf with his passion for fishing off Redcar. Keith said: 'I've always had an interest in the work of the RNLI volunteers. I've been a fisherman all my life, and I had my own fishing boat for many years. My father had a boat before me.

'One day my father nearly called the lifeboat out for me. I was in the only boat off, and the weather turned to a near-gale. As it turned out I was fine and we got back to shore safely.'

Peter Haslett, lifeboat treasurer at Redcar RNLI, said: 'We'd like to thank all the golfers at Clevelend Golf Club for supporting our volunteer crews. One or two of the crew play golf themselves, but sometimes they just don't get chance to because they're too busy manning the lifeboats.

'The golf course is right next to the sea, and I'm sure some of the players will have seeen the lifeboat hurrying past on its way to a rescue.'

The Cleveland golf course was opened in 1887, the same year that the old lifeboat house on the Esplanade at Redcar was built. This now houses the Zetland, the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world.

Notes to editors

• Attached images show Redcar RNLI volunteer Dave Scott (left) with Cleveland Golf Club captain Keith Cooper. Credit RNLI/Dave Cocks
• Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802
• Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge 2, paid for by the people of Leicester, and a D-class lifeboat named Jacky Hunsley, paid from the legacy of the late Jacqueline Hunsley
• For more news, information and images go to redcarlifeboat.org.uk
• Any images used should be credited RNLI/Redcar unless indicated

RNLI media contacts:

For more information please telephone Dave Cocks, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 07894 558 483, or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789; pressoffice@rnli.org.uk .

RNLI Public Relations: 01202 336789 or pressoffice@rnli.org.uk.

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Key facts about the RNLI: The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 150 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 139,000 lives.

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