RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station

28/08/2026

SEAL PUP “LIFE SAVED”!

Whilst volunteering at the Lifeboat Station on Wednesday two of our fundraising team were alerted to a distressed seal pup on the beach.

Gaynor and James were in the RNLI shop that afternoon and found the pup on the beach. She had several wounds and a swollen muzzle.
Gaynor called the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and stayed with her until she was collected soon after.
She was then taken to RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre who are now caring for her.

She has been named Dolly after the late Dolly Parton.

See post for full details 😊

We have a new arrival in our care today and we’ve named this beautiful girl Dolly Parton, continuing our theme of naming our seals after civil rights heroes.

Dolly Parton sadly passed away yesterday, but throughout her life she used her voice and her incredible influence to support equality, education and human rights. We thought it was a fitting name for this little seal who now needs a helping hand herself 🩷

Dolly is a poorly and underweight common seal, rescued in Hastings by the wonderful team at BDMLR.

She arrived with a swollen muzzle, a high temperature and several wounds across her body, so she certainly wasn’t feeling her best

Thankfully, she’s now in safe hands with us and receiving the care, treatment and plenty of TLC she needs to hopefully get her back to full strength 🦭

27/08/2026

💎 Donate your pre-loved jewellery and support Hastings Lifeboat Station 💎

Our hugely popular Pre-Loved Jewellery Sale is back on 10th and 11th October 2026, and we would love your help to make it another fantastic success.

If you have any jewellery you no longer wear, whether it is necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings or other treasured pieces, please consider donating them for us to sell in support of the RNLI.

Donations can be dropped into the RNLI Shop at RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station, 7 days a week between 10:30am and 4:30pm.

A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated. Your generosity really does make a difference. 💙

Please share this post and help us spread the word.

26/08/2026

MODEL LIFEBOAT PRESENTED TO HASTINGS LIFEBOAT STATION

We are delighted to receive a very fine model of a historic Hastings RNLI lifeboat, the MTC, which was on service from 1950 to 1963.

The model was gifted to the station by Valerie Cakebread in memory of her late husband Bill, who had been the proud owner, and was presented to our Chairman Paul by Bob Cakebread.

Valerie and Bob were delighted that the lifeboat model could come "home" to Hastings RNLI.

It is a real pleasure to add the model to our collection and we will be proud to display it publicly in our popular RNLI shop.

20/08/2026

The History of the Hastings
20 September 14:00

A talk by Ken Brooks in aid of the Hastings & St Leonards Museum Association.

£5 on the door

Refreshments will be available following the event.

https://www.hmag.org.uk/event/the-history-of-the-rnli/

Visit 1066 Country Hastings Borough Council

19/08/2026

HARRY MAKES IT A DOUBLE!

It’s been a busy week for volunteer crew member Harry who passed his ALB Tier 1 this morning.

After passing his ILB Tier 1 earlier this week Harry was assessed by Lifeboat Trainer Assessor Paul and passed with flying colours

Well done for all your hard work Harry 😊

18/08/2026

NEW SERIES TONIGHT!
BBC2 at 8pm

18/08/2026

On Monday 17th August Catsfield Ukulele Group held a “Fun and Strum” and Local Charity Fundraising evening in the village hall, and raised an amazing £356 for the RNLI!
Bob Morrison, Eilis O’Donnell and Annette Veness from Hastings Lifeboat Station were in attendance, and Annette talked to the group about the work of the RNLI.
The group played and sang old favourites on the theme of sea, water and rock, including Drunken Sailor and Ferry Cross the Mersey
Ian Roberts from Catsfield Ukulele Group said afterwards –
“Hi Annette.
Just to say, thankyou to you, Eilis and Bob for coming over to us last evening. I hope you all enjoyed the sing a long and social occasion.
Here's hoping we could help the Hastings RNLI in some small, but needy way. It was very interesting knowing about some of the facts about the RNLI and the tremendous work it does ..and to think they are ALL volunteers !
Keep up the great work you all do.
Sincere Thanks again.
Ian.”

Bob Morrison from Hastings RNLI said –

“It was a lovely evening, with the hall full of ukulele players and the music was great! Thank you to the group for the amazing amount raised, which will all go towards the work of the RNLI. Many thanks to you all for your generosity. And it didn’t hurt that the hall was air-conditioned!!”

Pics courtesy of Bob Morrison

18/08/2026

***Hastings RNLI stalwart retires***

Hastings RNLI lifeboat station said goodbye to a stalwart as she retired on Monday (17th August), with dozens of volunteers from across the station attending her leaving party.

Judith Collins had volunteered for the lifesaving charity for nine years, and was lifeboat visits officer, deputy shop manager and fundraising volunteer. Judith retired as she is moving to East Anglia to be near family. At her farewell party, immediately after her last shift and just hours before her move, Judith was presented with various gifts by Paul Freathy, Hastings Lifeboat Management Group chair, on behalf of her fellow volunteers at the lifeboat station. Community manager Megan Murphy also gave her a framed certificate of thanks signed by the RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes.

Paul said :- “Judith has been one of the mainstays of the lifeboat station for many years, fulfilling several important roles at the same time. It is testament to her commitment that she worked her final shift just hours before leaving for her new home in East Anglia. We are so grateful for all that she has done to help the RNLI save lives at sea. We will miss her enormously.”

Judith added :- “I wasn’t expecting to see so many friends and colleagues at my leaving do, it was such a lovely surprise and I am so grateful for them attending, and for the gifts I was given. It left me speechless! It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with everyone at the station. I have really enjoyed my time at Hastings RNLI, and I will really miss everyone, and being part of such a great crew. It was also a real honour to receive the framed certificate of thanks from the RNLI’s chief executive.”

(Pictures provided by RNLI Hastings volunteer Kevin B)

* * *

17/08/2026

Come down and watch the RNLI Lifeguards East Sussex Annual Lifeguard Challenge!
This Friday (21st) at 19:30 😊

🏊🏻‍♂️ LIFEGUARD CHALLENGE 2026 🏃‍♀️

📆 21st AUGUST, 19:30 - Save the Date 📆

The annual Lifeguard Challenge is BACK! Testing lifeguards on three key fitness elements of the role; running, swimming and board paddling 🤩

As always, we have a limited number of rescue boards in the competition… the top 5 competitors will reach the boards and continue the race for a top 5 spot 😎

We invite you ALL to come and watch! Hastings Harbour Arm is the ideal place to watch the competition, as this is a central point of the course ☺️

We’re pleased to confirm our continued support from Hastings Lifeboat for the event ♥️ Hastings RNLI Lifeboat

We’re excited to see you all there 😎

*this event is weather dependent and may be cancelled in adverse weather. Watch this page for updates ✅