The familiar voices of sea shanties have translated into a substantial boost for local charities after the Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club’s Old Leigh Shanty Festival delivered a total of £4,000 for community causes.
Funds split between life-saving services and heritage preservation
The May festival, organised annually by the Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club, drew more than 20 sea shanty bands from across the country to Old Leigh. Proceeds have been divided evenly between two local organisations: Southend RNLI Lifeboat Station and the Endeavour Trust Leigh-on-Sea, which cares for the Dunkirk Little Ship the Endeavour.
- £2,000 presented to Southend RNLI to support equipment and volunteer readiness
- £2,000 to be handed to the Endeavour Trust to assist in maintaining the historic vessel
- Presentation made by members of the Leigh Lions’ Hoy Shanty Crew
Event organiser and Leigh Lions Club member Tony Prior, accompanied by fellow members of the Hoy Shanty Crew, visited Southend RNLI Lifeboat Station to deliver the donation to the volunteer crew.
“We are immensely grateful to the Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club and their band Hoy Shanty Crew for their phenomenal support. Receiving this incredible donation from the total raised makes a huge difference, the funds help ensure our volunteer crew at Southend RNLI remain fully equipped and ready to save lives at sea.”
The words above were given by Tony Clarke, volunteer Fundraising Chair at Southend RNLI, as the station welcomed the cheque. Southend RNLI is one of the busiest coastal stations in the UK and Republic of Ireland, covering roughly fifteen miles of shoreline from Shoeburyness towards Canvey and beyond. The station relies on donations to maintain its equipment and operational readiness.
Why this matters to Southend residents
Support raised locally feeds directly into front-line search and rescue capability and the preservation of the town’s maritime identity. Lifeboat crews are all volunteers and operate through charitable funding; even modest community events therefore have practical effects on safety at sea. The donation to the Endeavour Trust helps sustain a tangible link to the area’s Dunkirk evacuation heritage, an aspect of local history that draws interest and pride.
| Recipient | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Southend RNLI Lifeboat Station | £2,000 | Support equipment and volunteer readiness |
| Endeavour Trust Leigh-on-Sea | £2,000 | Maintenance and preservation of the Dunkirk Little Ship, the Endeavour |
Organisers say the festival combined tradition, community spirit and live music to attract crowds and generate funds. For readers seeking further information about Southend RNLI, the station’s press contacts include Nigel Gilchrist, Lifeboat Press Officer, and Julie Rainey, Regional Communications Lead.
Local residents who support maritime safety or who have an interest in preserving the Endeavour can expect formal presentations to both beneficiaries in the coming weeks, and further fundraising activity from the Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club later in the year.
