Celia Imrie showing support for another local charity, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance /BWI
TV favourite and star of stage and screen, Celia Imrie, will formally launch a £1M public appeal to create a new lifeboat station in Cowes this weekend, on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The leading British actress, well known for her work in comedy Nanny McPhee, Acorn Antiques and Dinnerladies, with Victoria Wood, will front the public launch of the appeal, which will lead to a greatly improved lifeboat station serving the Solent.
The current Cowes lifeboat station is a small, temporary facility within Shepherds Wharf marina, but the RNLI plans to refurbish the old Custom House building, near the mouth of the River Medina. This location will reduce the lifeboat launching time by four minutes, allowing the crew to reach casualties more quickly, which in turn could prove crucial in saving lives out at sea.
Celia – who also starred in blockbuster British feel-good film, Calendar Girls - agreed to come on board as she has had a home in Cowes since 1989, and was keen to lend her support for the charity that saves lives at sea. Arriving by lifeboat from the current station to the old Custom House in Cowes, the site of the new station, on Saturday 2 April, Celia will meet crew and fundraisers and formally launch the appeal.
Celia said: ‘As a resident of Cowes, I greatly admire the work of the RNLI. I was thrilled to be invited to be the Honorary President of the Cowes Guild but unfortunately work commitments have prevented me being able to take a proper active part until now. The volunteer lifeboat crew members are truly wonderful, giving up their time and risking their safety to assist others in peril. If I can help in any way raise awareness of the need for the new station, I am honoured and delighted.’
She added: ‘I am aware that many islanders have already donated towards another RNLI appeal for Bembridge in recent years; for this appeal, we hope to entice supporters from the sailing fraternity. There are many people who, like me don’t live permanently in Cowes, but visit here regularly for its beauty, escaping from London, all year round sailing, or just for the famous Cowes week and the fireworks. As Cowes is the sailing ‘capital’ we hope that all those who arrive by boat to the town and its surrounding waters will see the importance of this appeal and help us achieve the £1M target.’
The RNLI has already purchased the old Custom House building in Cowes but now needs to fully refurbish it to turn it into a replacement lifeboat station. As well as reducing the launch time by four minutes, it will also provide more space for training the dedicated volunteer lifeboat crew.
Mark Southwell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Cowes RNLI lifeboat station, said: ‘Where we’re based currently the lifeboat is exposed to the elements and is in a location that is far from ideal in operational terms. That is why the RNLI is launching the appeal.’
The volunteer crew from Cowes RNLI will also demonstrate the capabilities of their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Tabbycat at the launch.
