BARRY Dock Lifeboat Station had a busy Sunday when they were called out during a visit by two families.

On September 11, three groups of visitors were welcomed to the station.

The first from the Breaksea Masonic Lodge, named after the Breaksea lightship that was stationed in the Bristol Channel, who presented a cheque for £1,600.

The money was raised at the Lodge’s Summer Social Event, an annual charity event for family and friends this year held at the Seashore Grill, Sully. Sponsored by SA Brain, Lee and Andrew Selby and KCS Transport, the event initially hoped to raise £1,000 but after 90 people attended the event they raised £1,600.

The money was donated in memory Dai Sam Davies, Doc Stevens and Ted Powell. Mr Powell was a well-loved figure at Barry Dock, who served for many years as a coxswain and honorary secretary, he died earlier this year.

There was also an auction hosted by lifeboat crewmember Dean Caldwell.

Afterwards, two families from Bristol, who won VIP visits from a charity auction run by Lloyds Bank head office in Bristol, toured the station, tried on kit and were shown around the Trent class lifeboat.

Just before finishing, the crew were called to launch the lifeboat.

The lifeboat set off in search of a possible object in the water reported just off from Fontygary.

Luckily, a mobile Coastguard unit made it to the scene and confirmed no one was in danger, they stood the lifeboat down before they made it to the scene.

Arriving back to Barry Dock around 30 minutes after launching, they were able to talk to visitors about how crews are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and that you can never predict the next time a call will be made.