Representatives from Exmouth and Teignmouth RNLI were invited to the 2011 Dawlish Air Show AGM on a wet and windy 15 December at The Manor House, Dawlish. A volunteer from each station received a cheque for £100 following public relations exercises during this year’s show.

Attendees were shown a short film of “behind the scenes” footage from the 2011 air show and organisers gave an insight into all the effort that was generated to put on a large-scale annual event.

Chair, Kevin Wills presented 13 cheques to local organisations and charities which had supported the event and offered their services free of charge. Together with the 2 donations to the RNLI, the British Legion, Friends of Dawlish Hospital, local ATC and Sea Scouts services were honoured.

Don Hodgkinson, Chair of Exmouth RNLI guild and Tony Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer and Administrator at Teignmouth RNLI both received £100 for the stations’ involvement on the day.

Kevin thanked both RNLI stations;

‘Involving the local RNLI stations is a vital part of the air show organisation. Seeing your presence gives both the organisers and the pilots whilst up in the air, a warm feeling knowing that if the inevitable happens, we will be in safe hands. We support you guys 110%.’

Organisers continued to illustrate how involvement of emergency services during large-scale events is essential. At this year’s show, a stand-by RAF Sea King was scrambled when two young spectators, holiday-makers from Wolverhampton, fell 15 foot from a sea wall. The girls escaped with minor injuries, but the speed and efficiency of the rescue honed in to the 80,000 strong crowd, the importance of life-saving services at a holiday event by the seaside.

Dawlish Air Show is usually run in August every year, in the same week as the popular annual carnival. The event draws in crowds of around 80,000 locals and holidaymakers. However next year, the organisers have decided to put on the event earlier in the summer to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, on Friday 8 June.