Beer lifeboat shop reopens doors for first time in almost 18 months

The RNLI shop in Jubilee Gardens, Beer, recently reopened its doors for the first time since March 2020.

The shop was closed before coronavirus restrictions were put in place in March 2020, but was finally able to welcome back customers last Saturday with some safety regulations in place.

Hand sanitiser is available at the entrance and there is a screen in front of the till. Volunteers are also limiting the number of people allowed in the shop at one time and are asking customers to wear face masks if possible.

The RNLI shop first opened in Jubilee Gardens in 1981 and was replaced with a new shop in 2001, and then again in 2011, with electricity, lighting, heating, a till and card payment machine installed in 2016.

The reopening was a real celebration of the shop's 40th anniversary, with Lucy Putt, community retail lead for the local area, attending, along with Beer & District RNLI branch members, volunteers and supporters.

Secretary Wendy Cummins made a special cake and read a poem that she first wrote for the replacement shop opening in 2011.

Guests also enjoyed non-alcoholic sparkling wine, sticks of rock and chocolate.

Mrs Cummins said: "We hope to have many more years with our shop and fundraising for the RNLI at Beer and in our area.

"During the coming months we will be attending events with our stall and our next branch event is our annual sponsored walk that is currently scheduled for Sunday, October 24.

"We thank all our volunteers and supporters and continue looking forward to a busy 2021."

The shop is stocking new RNLI gifts and souvenirs, plus Christmas cards and 2022 diaries.

It is hoped the shop will be open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm, subject to volunteer availability and the weather.

There are still have a few spaces on the shop rota for regular and relief cover. Anyone interested in volunteering should call into the shop or phone 01297 23040 and leave a message, or email [email protected].