The Fund-raising committee of Tenby RNLI welcomed friends old and new to a late afternoon of fun and fashion last Sunday. The event was held in M & Co and as more and more people streamed in, there was a happy buzz of anticipation throughout the audience.
They were certainly not disappointed. There was such a variety of clothes on show, all expertly shown off by members of the committee and friends, including some very excited younger supporters. All the models performed with an almost professional ease and the audience was pleasantly surprised by the variety of clothes for all occasions that are available in this popular local store.
Models ranged in age from the redoubtable Doreen Mortimer, manager of the RNLI shop , recent recipient of an Excellence in Volunteering Award, to Sophia, Olivia, Mabli and Ioan, grandchildren of the president and chairman of the fund-raising committee, who obviously have a future in fashion!
The clothes took the audience from autumnal day wear to the glitz of party shimmer and shine, and there were plenty of positive comments from audience members as the models glided past.
Highlight of the show was the guest appearance of two very professional male models, Will and Josh, who, in another life are the engineer and crewman on the lifeboat. Josh caused quite a stir in his Christmas pyjamas and many in the audience noted that both were wearing pagers. That would have been an interesting shout for Josh in the PJs.
It was a privilege to have three generations of a true lifeboat family taking part as Tenby RNLI Committee president Shan is, of course, mother-in-law to Donna and Katherine, and grandmother to Imogen, Sophia and Olivia, all of whom modelled with style. Young Ioan Evans didn’t seem to mind being the only boy and made sure his sister, Mabli followed his lead.
The committee’s thanks go to all the model, young and not so young, Shan Thomas, Sylvie Morgan, Julie Jenkins, Doreen Mortimer, Barbara Pegg, Althea Shaw, Niki Craig, Sean,Paula Shaw and Catrin Griffiths along with teenage models, Imogen and Ellie, and children, Ioan, Mabli, Sophia, Olivia and Amelie.
A big thank you too, to Chris Moore for running the raffle virtually solo and to Lydia Marsden who ensured everyone got their prizes quickly and efficiently. The committee members are grateful to all who donated prizes, including M & Co, Heatherton, Lydstep Garden Centre, Tenby Bookshop, Harbwr Brewery, Finn’s by the Sea, Liz Green and Roger Paice.
Thanks also go to Terry Evans and Laurence Blackhall who served delicious canapes, and to Penny Taylor, Joan Davies and Sarah Benbow, who found themselves serving the prosecco!
The biggest thank you must, however, go to Michelle and her staff at M & Co. They could not do enough for everyone and coped patiently with the models, finding that perfect outfit for them all. Special thanks to Amy who came in, just to help, and proved invaluable. Judging by the queues at the tills at the end of the show many audience members found something too good to leave in the store.
The finale brought all the models together for a final well-earned round of applause, and it was fitting that the evening’s two stars, Will and Josh, came on in their life-saving gear, bringing home to the audience exactly what their money was for. All agreed that it had been a most enjoyable, afternoon and the members are delighted to announce that over £1,000 was raised for the RNLI . Well done everyone.