Volunteers of the RNLI do a fantastic job savings lives at sea - but that doesn't mean they don't also need the support of those living a little further inland.

The local Tunbridge Wells branch of the national charity, which has rescued countless people since it was formed in 1824, has started an online fundraising drive after a year when giving has been badly hit by the Covid crisis.

They are also keen to remind people that RNLI crews do not just operate in coastal waters, in the past inshore lifeboats were deployed to Uckfield, Yalding and Lewes to assist communities hit by flooding.

Joan Hamilton-Smith, who organises collections for the RNLI Royal Tunbridge Wells Branch, said: "We did have a significant individual donation of £11,875, including gift aid, and that rescued our branch from being unable to help out the RNLI as much as we would like this year, bearing in mind our previous years' annual fundraising activities have raised between £15,000 and £20,000.

"In normal circumstances we have stalls at local fetes, coffee mornings, sales of souvenirs and bric-a-brac and much more.

"There will, obviously, be a drop in donations which is why the RNLI allowed us the JustGiving page in the hope that it would generate some income to enable them to stay afloat."

The nearest lifeboat stations for the Tunbridge Wells branch are Tower on the River Thames in London, and the coastal station at Hastings.

Two men who live locally to Tunbridge Wells are part of the crew on the Tower boat and travel up to do a few days on shift before returning back to Kent.

Mrs Hamilton-Smith added: "Cutbacks are not something the RNLI consider as they are there to save lives, no matter what, although their training exercises ceased for a while.

"The RNLI receives no Government help and relies totally on voluntary donations and legacies to raise the approximate annual £180 million needed to keep the lifeboats afloat nationwide."

To support the appeal via the JustGiving page before December 31, click here

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