Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service receives ‘first real home’

The East of England Co-op has leased its old dairy site in Felixstowe to the Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service, part of a package of support for the local independent lifeboat charity.

The East of England Co-op has leased its old dairy site in Felixstowe to the Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service, part of a package of support for the local independent lifeboat charity.

The agreement will see the site become Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service’s ‘first real secure home’, used to house their lifeboats, as well as act as the Service’s main base and training facility.

The use of the site is the latest in a string of support from the East of England Co-op in Felixstowe for the charity. Members and customers are encouraged to support the charity with donation buckets in each of the Co-op’s Felixstowe stores. The East of England Co-op has also provided free fuel to the lifeboats throughout the summer.

John Cresswell, Operations Manager and 1st Coxswain at the Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service, said, “Our board of trustees, the committee and crews would very much like to express their sincere gratitude to the East of England Co-op for their continued support of our local independent lifeboat service over the last 22 years.

“We are very proud to be associated with the East of England Co-op. Their ongoing support highlights their ethos to help not only the local community, but also the charities and groups that work within it.”

Last year saw Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service tackle one of its busiest years on record, with the Service handling 92 incidents of which 27 were potentially life threatening. In 2017 Felixstowe Coast Patrol Rescue Service saved 187 people and five dogs.

Roger Grosvenor, Joint Chief Executive at the East of England Co-op, said, “Felixstowe Coast Patrol Rescue Service provides an invaluable service to the people of Felixstowe and visitors coming to enjoy the coast. As a community retailer, we are only too pleased to be able to offer the charity our support to continue their fantastic work.”

Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service receives its only funding from Felixstowe Town Council and relies on donations from the public to ensure its operations continue.

For more information visit www.felixstowecoastpatrol.co.uk.