As part of the on-going celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the RNLI, the RNLI's Sherborne Fundraising Branch are hosting a concert by Mousehole Male Voice Choir (known in Cornish as Keur Mebyon Porthenys) at The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls. on Saturday 2^nd November 2024 as a major fundraising event.

Representatives of the Sherborne Branch visited west Cornwall this weekend, to meet with and listen to the Choir. After attending the Choir's 90th Summer Festival Concert on 4^th August, Bridget Fairlie of the Sherborne Fundraising Branch Committee and her husband Robin were welcomed to Penlee on 5^th August by Visits Team Member (and Choir Vice Chairman) Colin Lawry. They were joined by Choir Chairman Brett Farmer and Secretary Tim James.

The visitors were shown the recently released video marking Coxswain Patch Harvey's award of a RNLI Silver Medal for Gallantry, and then after a visit to the crew changing room, they went to the pontoon to look at the ILB Mollie and Ivor Dent, and then went on board the Severn class ALB Ivan Ellen. Our guests were then shown the Visitor Centre at the station, and afterwards joined Patch for a cuppa. Colin then took Bridget and Robin to the old lifeboat station at Penlee Point to conclude their visit to our station.

Further details of tickets for the concert at The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls will be released closer to the date. The RNLI depends on the generosity of those who are willing to support such events, as well as many other fundraising efforts, to enable our crews to undertake their vital work of saving lives at sea.

Mousehole Male Voice Choir will also be supporting the RNLI by singing at the annual service of blessing for the Penlee boats and crews at Mousehole Harbour on Sunday 8^th September at 7pm.

***

Main picture above –  Colin Lawry, Tim James, Bridget Fairlie, Robin Fairlie and Brett Farmer aboard ALB Ivan Ellen.
Photo: Denise Lawry

Tim James, Robin Fairlie, Colin Lawry, Brett Farmer and Bridget Fairlie discussing the ILB Mollie and Ivor Dent. Photo: Denise Lawry.

Mousehole Male Voice Choir/Keur Mebyon Porthenys singing in the Parish Church of St Pol de Leon in Paul. Photo: Matt Bromage.