The RNLI Henry Blogg museum shop has won the RNLI’s Supporter Award 2008 in the retail category.

  Shop volunteers Victor Brett and Molly Girling are invited to the Annual Presentation of Awards ceremony in May* to receive the award on behalf of all the volunteers who have worked so hard to raise funds to save lives at sea.

In 2007 the team sold more gifts and souvenirs than in the previous two years added together. The shop raised 60 per cent more last year compared to the year before.

Victor Brett said: ‘I’m delighted to win this award – it just proves that our hard work and dedication has paid off. It’s great to have our efforts recognised at a national level.’

The volunteers run the shop, ordering and pricing goods, managing stock and displays and serving customers, but they also try new product ranges, support Cromer RNLI branch events and supply Christmas cards to High Street outlets. They are always looking for quality new products and ways to increase funds in support of lifeboat crews across the country.

James Thompson, Retail Manager for the Eastern Region, said:
‘The whole team has risen to the challenge and has done extremely well, adapting themselves to new procedures and routines to deal with the extra workload.’

The museum and shop are staffed by a dedicated team of 50 volunteers who welcomed 44,000 people to the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum in 2007, the highest recorded number since the museum opened in 1967.  The museum will re-open to visitors from Friday 1 February.

The RNLI Henry Blogg Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday,
February – March 10am-4pm
April – September 10am – 5pm
October – November 10am –4pm
December – January open for special events only
Admission to the museum is free. Donations are always appreciated.