A CELEBRATION tinged with sadness was held recently at The Feathers Hotel in Ledbury, when time was called on five decades of support for the Royal National Lifeboats Institution in the Ledbury area.

Diminishing membership and increased regulations have "made it difficult to continue to organise high- level activities".

Group spokesman, Fran Bradley said: "Escalating costs of new boats, technology, equipment and training along with the introduction of life guards on beaches, safeguarding holiday makers, have rendered the successful role undertaken by local volunteers unsustainable.

"It is with great sadness and regret that our Guild feels unable to continue. Ledbury and District members, and the RNLI, would like to express sincere thanks to all local supporters, whose loyalty and generosity has enabled substantial contributions to be made to the lifeboat cause”.

The Ledbury Ladies RNLI Guild was first formed in 1969, and arose from a talk given by the Lifeboat’s regional secretary.

Over the last half -century, numerous local events have been organised bringing in hundreds of thousands of pounds for the important work of saving lives at sea, with more than £100,000 raised in the last sixteen years since the beginning of the this century.

This is important, because the work of the RNLI is supported solely by public donation.

Mrs Bradley said: "The Guild has been fortunate and grateful for the loyal and steadfast generosity of many local people, who have opened their homes and gardens in aid of the cause. Further income was generated from coffee mornings, tea and talk afternoons, concerts, fashion shows and street collections, whilst permanent collection boxes yielded generous sums of money in a vast number of businesses, trading and other establishments.

Three local founder members who attended the event at The Feathers were presented with long-service badges by the RLNI.

Pam Crocker, Fran Bradley and Sue Farr recalled that the first ever street collection in Ledbury raised £26 whilst recent collections have amounted to around £500.