After two call-outs, Exmouth Lifeboat volunteers held their annual Sea Sunday service on 13 July at the boathouse on Queens Drive. Chaplain Reverend James Hutchings took the service, leading prayers and hymns for those who work and live by the sea.

At least 100 people attended the 40 minute service, attracting many beach visitors throughout the duration. Volunteers from the National Coastwatch Institution and Exmouth Town Councillors joined Exmouth RNLI crew and fundraising volunteers with their families, for the occasion.

Exmouth Town Concert Band accompanied the hymns and Fundraising Team volunteers read selected passages from the Bible. During the first hymn, Crew volunteer Paul Balbi paraded the RNLI standard, which was on display at the altar throughout the service. Special guests for this year were members of the Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir who led the hymns and entertained the congregation with their delightful singing.

Volunteers organised a bucket collection after the service, whilst the band played a medley of sea-faring tunes. £260.73 was collected in total, which will contribute towards the ongoing fundraising at the lifeboat station.

Reverend Hutchings, was delighted to see the support in the community;

‘It’s wonderful to be here at the lifeboat station looking over the sea. That makes us want to give thanks to the volunteers here, to keep us safe on what we’re looking out upon. We give thanks to God for that. The choir and the band added an extra dimension to help celebrate those who work on and by the sea.’