SOS Day nets more than £1,500 for RNLI Barry Dock lifeboat (From Barry And District News)

SOS Day nets more than £1,500 for RNLI Barry Dock lifeboat

8:20am Saturday 6th February 2010

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A NATIONAL fundraising day has enabled the RNLI Barry Dock lifeboat to net more than £1,500 to continue its vital work.

Welsh National Opera chorus members donated their services free of charge to wow an 80-strong audience at the Old School in Sully, as part of the RNLI’s annual SOS day on Friday (January 29).

The performance, staged by the Barry Fundraising Branch RNLI, led to a £1409.50 boost to the local charity’s coffers.

And earlier in the day great-grandfather-of-one John Williams, having previously donated £200, added a further £100 as thanks to the Barry crew for saving his teenage grandson Jason McCarthy’s life.

Jason, of Cwmbran, got into difficulty in the sea off Whitmore Bay, Barry Island, in September last year.

He was saved after a dramatic rescue, involving the all-weather lifeboat crew, Coastwatch and other emergency services.

Jason has since recovered from his ordeal.

John, 75, of Cwmbran, acknowledged that without the Barry Dock lifeboat crew he would have one less grandson.

He added: "Jason seems more confident now and that’s all down to these people.

"I’d like to say a sincere thanks to them all."

Crew member and ambulance technician Dean Caldwell said life had been hectic for the volunteers since the successful rescue.

"It seems to be a never-ending story," he said.

And the Sail On Singing evening, taking inspiration from the SOS acronym, later ensured the crew could continue with their potentially life-saving missions.

The Three Other Tenors – Michael Clifton-Thompson, Philip Lloyd Holtham and Howard Kirk – together with Helen Greenaway, Jasey Hall and Anitra Blaxhall, delighted their audience with a selection of operatic songs, classic show tunes and some comic touches.

They were accompanied by James Southall, who will make his conducting debut for WNO in 2010 with performances of The Magic Flute.

Honorary Secretary of the Barry Fundraising Branch RNLI, Jennie Williams said: "The evening was terrific.

"We hope we will be able to repeat it again one day.

"It was our best ever event."

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