Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat Trust are to benefit from a £5,000 a year annual grant from Bristol City Council. The Bristol Evening Post ran the story this evening saying:

"Volunteers from Portishead's independent lifeboat service are riding on the crest of a wave after being thrown a lifeline by Bristol City Council.  The Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat Trust, which is based at Sugarloaf Bay, learned last week that its bid to the City Council for £5,000 to help towards the £40,000 needed each year to keep the boat on the water had been successful.

The Council has also agreed to continue to fund the trust, which is run entirely by volunteers, to the tune of £5,000 each year for the forseasble future. The trust had applied to the council for funding in the past, but was refused, despite the fact that it assists in many rescues in the Bristol area and River Avon.

North Somerset Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate Dr. Brian Mathew stepped in to support the trust's bid for cash after meeting volunteers and learning about their work.  Dr. Mathew lobbied city councilors who agreed to allocate the funding on an annual basis. "

Cllr Alf Havvock (front right) Brian Mathew Lib Dem PPC for North Somerset meet up with Portishead lifeboat crew Chris Wade, Ian Lazenby and Dave Herbert.

Other photographs from the photoshoot on Sunday 21st of March with potential future Lifeboat recruit Ben Goldsmith taking the helm!

Photos by Florence Morris Photography