RNLI lifeboat volunteers will be opening the Bude Lifeboat Station to the public this month, allowing them to have a ‘behind-the-scenes’ experience of the base.

The open day on Easter Monday, March 28, will run from 11am until 4pm. Members of the public will be able to see the inshore lifeboat, the launching tractor and the rescue watercraft.

The crew room — where the crew’s kit is kept — and the operations room, where exercise and training takes place, will also be available to view. The operations room has a fantastic view of Summerleaze Beach, illustrating how close the public and the lifeguards are to each other daily.

The public will also be able to try on suits and helmets that are used during service, and video footage of the RNLI in action will be shown, and the history of the lifeboats in Bude will be explained.

As well as this, the well-stocked shop will be open all day, along with a second-hand book stall, refreshments and a treasure hunt, where a lovely prize can be won.

Alan Leedham, chairman of the Bude fundraisers, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming people to the lifeboat station, so that they can see what our volunteer crew and fundraisers do.

“Here at Bude, we have a fantastic group of people involved in all aspects of running the station and fundraising for the RNLI.

“Our inshore lifeboat carries out a range of service launches, and just earlier this month assisted a surfer in difficulty back to the shore after he became tired a good 200 metres off shore at Widemouth Bay.

“It is an honour to be involved with the station, and to be able to give something back to our community. Bude’s RNLI fundraisers and crew look forward to welcoming you to our station.”

Bude Lifeboat Station is celebrating 50 years of being back in the town this year, so the event will collaborate well with this. It is hoped that as many members of the community as possible will attend, to get an insight of what the lifeguards do on a daily basis to prevent casualties, and to support the station.