Bumper year for visits at Hunstanton Lifeboat Station
- 3 months ago
- Hunstanton
- Share:

Volunteers who show visitors around the station have welcomed more than 25,000 through the doors during the 200th anniversary year of both the RNLI and the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton.
Some 23,500 people came to look around the boathouse and hovercraft hangar at Hunstanton RNLI in 2024.
They were joined by 1,500 children from across the region, who came on school trips.
Beavers, Cubs, Rainbows and Brownies from neighbouring villages have also been put through their paces to earn their water safety badges.
And almost 300 children attended Storm Force - the station's kids' club run on Sundays through the summer holidays, where young people learn how to stay safe by the sea and what to do if they see someone in danger.
Kate Craven, Hunstanton RNLI's visits officer and water safety lead, heads a dozen-strong team who staff the boathouse from Monday to Saturday, from April to October.
'They give visitors tours of the station and tell them all about the lifesaving work of our crew and the craft they use,' said Kate.
'Some children who come on school trips are from land-locked schools who haven’t had the opportunity to see the beach or experience what goes on at a lifeboat station.
'It’s a pleasure co-ordinating a team whose love of the RNLI shines throughout the season to our visitors.
'We get so many comments from the public telling us how much they enjoyed their tour.
'That just makes it all so worthwhile for us, knowing we've made a difference.'
More than 300 can visit on a summer's day, while school parties often arrive with a coach-load of enthusiastic young supporters eager to see the lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.
Visits volunteers at the station - who keep a daily tally of arrivals - enjoy interacting with people of all ages and answering their many questions about the work of the RNLI.
Retired train driver Paul Dixon is on track to start his fourth year on the team as it draws up plans for next year.
'We try to educate people about water safety so the crew don't have so much to do,' he said. 'What better cause is there than saving lives at sea?'
Paul, whose cousin Rod Hicks was a member of the crew, was encouraged to join - like several other members - by fellow volunteer Patty Berry.
'When I came to live on the coast a few years ago, I really wanted to get to know life by the sea and do something for a good cause,' Patty said. 'I just love coming down and talking to people about the RNLI.'
The station will be opening Monday - Saturday (10am - 4pm) from Monday, 7 April to Saturday, 1 November in 2025.
Storm Force dates, which are all Sundays; will be April 13 and 20, 27 July and 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 August, with sessions starting at 11am.
If you're interested in joining the visits team at Hunstanton, email kate_craven@rnli.org.