THE people of Burnham, Highbridge and the local community are invited to enjoy an evening with the RNLI.

The event is taking place at The Swan Hotel in Wedmore on Sunday May 15 at 6:30pm, with the hotel making its premises available for a fund-raising evening to assist the Burnham-on-sea D Class lifeboat appeal.

Well-known RNLI supporter and playwright, Alan Tyson, will open his archives to present a talk on RNLI history, illustrated with an audio and visual film presentation.

After the presentation, there will be a charity auction of donated items and a raffle.

Entry to the Swan will be by ticket only.

Tickets are priced at £15 per person, to include a glass of wine on entry and buffet style food during the evening.

The auction will be delivered by a professional auctioneer and a starting prize for the raffle has been donated by the Swan as a night’s dinner plus bed and breakfast.

Organiser, David Ewens, said: "This is a terrific opportunity to enjoy yourself, whilst boosting funds for our D class lifeboat appeal."

Alan's RNLI experiences story begins with a sailing trip with a family friend.

Royal Marine, Jason Ward, had been posted to Norway and planned to sail there.

Alan accompanied Jason with some other friends, and they were sailing off the Norfolk coast when the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston all-weather lifeboat drew close.

Alan said: "They explained that they had been out training when they saw us in dangerous shallow water.

"They kindly escorted us to the station and showed us around.

"It made me realise that lifeboat crew are unsung heroes: all down-to- earth and extremely professional."

After leaving a donation with the lifeboat crew, Jason and Alan continued on the journey across the North Sea.

Jason championed the RNLI for the rest of his life, which sadly ended two years later.

He was killed in a helicopter crash while serving in the Iraq war.

Salcombe lifeboat scattered his ashes at sea - a request from Jason's family that remembered his support for the RNLI.

"The whole experience planted a seed of support for the RNLI that grew and grew," added Alan.

"I initially wanted to create a small presentation that would raise funds, but, as I read about the history, it fast became the stage docu-drama."