by Terry Bearpark
The Withernsea and District Lions Club has made donations to two life-saving organisations in the town for their valuable assistance in providing safety cover for a sponsored dip and also for their involvement in last month’s tragedy at the Pier Towers.
At this month’s Lions’ meeting at the Meridian Centre, Withernsea Lifeboat and the Humber Coastguard Association, the benevolence and welfare side of HM Coastguard, were each presented with cheques for £500 as a thank you for helping to keep the 35 charity participants safe during the dip on New Year’s Day after sea conditions forced it to be postponed on Boxing Day.
Just the day after the dip, three people tragically lost their lives when a freak wave washed 15-year-old Grace Keeling out to sea and her mother Sarah and local passer-by Mark Ratcliffe drowned while trying to save her.
Both the RNLI and the Coastguard were heavily involved in efforts to save their lives and the eventual recovery of all three bodies after a long search for Grace.
Members of both services provided guards of honour at their funerals.
The Lions, who meet on the first Wednesday of each month, welcome new members to their organisation and anyone interested should contact vice-president Emma Robertson on 07758 760035 or email [email protected].