MBF and West Lancs Charities donation to RNLI St Annes
 
A concert was held at St Annes lifeboat station in July where the Lytham community choir sang to support a fund raising appeal toward a new State of the art Lifeboat.
 
The evening raised  £1200 which added to the then total of aprox £140,000, toward a projected figure of £275,000 which the local station had been asked to contribute by the RNLI toward the £2.5m boat.
 
The Provincial Grand Master Keith Beardmore attended the event and was so taken by the efforts toward this worthy institution, questioned what could be done to assist.
 
Remembering that Semper Fidelis Lodge MMM No 880, who meet at St Annes, have as the Lodge logo a depiction of the Mexico memorial in the town it seemed an apt cause.
The Mexico floundered off the Fylde Coast in 1886 in ferocious seas with the Southport lifeboat Eliza Fernley being the first to launch in a rescue attempt but was overwhelmed by the storm and 14 of the 16 crew were lost.
 
The Laura Janet from St Annes joined the rescue but in still unknown circumstances never reached the Mexico and the following morning was found washed up on the beach with the loss of all 13 Crew.
On her maiden rescue the Charles Biggs, the Lytham Lifeboat, even after breaking three oars, managed to reach the stricken Mexico and rescued all 12 crew.
 
These life boats which were only powered by oars and the strength of the men on them had battled through the appalling storm and giving their all in an attempt to rescue fellow seamen in peril.
The total loss of life from the St Annes and Southport boats was 27 men, the biggest single loss the RNLI has ever suffered.
 
Keith spoke to John Sarti the Provincial Charity Steward and it was decided that West Lancs Mark Charities could donate £20,000 toward the appeal. Keith then asked John to petition the MBF to support the effort.
John put together an most comprehensive petition which resulted in the MBF granting an amazing £80,000, giving a total donation of £100,000.
 
The fund raisers at St Annes were overwhelmed by the donation when informed. One of the committee said " I had to sit down when I was told it just took my breath away, such generosity, this takes us to our target"
 
The new life boat, a Shannon Class Boat, to be on station in the spring of 2018, was due to be put in the water by the builders in Poole on 31st October and start sea trials soon after. 
Words and pictures by Keith Beardmore