The son of Patricia Treeby handed over a cheque for £500 to Exmouth RNLI on 9 September. The money was raised from donations in lieu of flowers from her funeral on 24 August at St. Peter’s Chapel, Exeter Crematorium.

As a life-long supporter of the charity that saves lives at sea, a further legacy is promised. Legacies are most important to the RNLI that funds six out of every ten lifeboat launches using gifts left in wills. In two recent campaigns, the charity is creating awareness of the importance of making a will: ‘Remember the RNLI week’ and offering free wills during the month of October.

On September 10, volunteers at Exmouth RNLI hosted the South West region’s ‘Remember the RNLI week’. Kate Ireland, the RNLI’s Legacy Manager in the south west, says:

‘Remember the RNLI Week’ allows us to remind people of the importance of legacies to the RNLI and to help them understand how they can go about remembering us after they’ve provided for their family and friends. You don’t have to leave us a fortune, any amount will make a difference from £350 to pay for a lifejacket for a crew volunteer on an all-weather lifeboat to £1,000 to buy the kit worn by a volunteer onboard an inshore lifeboat.’

If you, or your partner, are aged 55 or over, you can take advantage of the RNLI’s offer to have your Will written or amended for free. This offer is available across England and Wales during the month of October. You can find your nearest location on the RNLI website: http://rnli.org/howtosupportus/leavingmoney/Pages/Free-Wills.aspx If there is not one near to where you live, don’t worry. This offer will be available again in March, in different locations.

We work exclusively with schemes that only use solicitors who, unlike some other Will providers, are professionally qualified and regulated.

It is hoped that if you do decide to make or amend your Will for free, you will also consider leaving a gift to the RNLI – although there is no obligation to do so. Please note that the offer applies to simple Wills only. If your Will proves more complex then you may be asked to pay the difference.