All welcome aboard for a bumper programme of fundraising fun at Beer with a special display by Lyme Regis lifeboat The Spirit of Loch Fyne

Lifeboat supporters across the Axe Valley are plotting a course to the summer’s big fundraising event.

Beer Lifeboat Week starts with the annual street collection this Saturday (July 6).

Organisers, The Seaton, Beer and District Branch of the RNLI, are appealing for collectors to assist on a rota basis. Collection hours are between 8am and 6pm and people are invited to collect at a time suitable for them.

Officials are holding a ‘Brew for the Crew’ from 10am to noon at the Mariners Hall, Beer, and will be incorporating a Zumba session from 10.30am to 11am.

There will be tea, coffee and cake plus raffle, tombola, bric-a-brac and books for sale.

In the evening there will be a quiz night at Beer Social Club. The doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Entry is £1.50 per person with teams of four people invited. There will be a certificate and prize for the winning team.

Sunday July 7, will see the annual duck race day. Again there will be a duck art competition. Entrants of any age with a drawing, painting or collage of a duck are invited to take their entries to the RNLI sales kiosk on Top Cliff at Jubilee Gardens by 2pm.

There will be a visit and display by the new Lyme Regis Lifeboat The Spirit of Loch Fyne at 2.30pm, subject to weather and operational requirements.

It is hoped that a member of the crew will start the first duck race down Beer Brook at 3pm. Ducks can be sponsored at £1 per duck. The winning and second placed duck from each heat will be entered into the grand final, competing for prizes donated by local businesses.

On Tuesday July 9 organisers will be holding a Tea Dance from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Mariners Hall, featuring ballroom and sequence dancing. Music is by Elaine and entry is £3.

On Thursday July 11 there will be a second Brew for the Crew at the Mariners Hall from 10am to noon.

Donations of raffle and tombola prizes, bric-a-brac and books will be gratefully received for the events. Please telephone (01297) 23040 or bring items on the day.

Other events in the branch’s fundraising diary include the Seaton street collection on Saturday July 20 and a similar event at Colyton on Saturday July 27. Additional collectors on these days are needed.