Column in the Barry & District News by Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP:
As we head towards summer and the weather improves, I’m very aware of the risks that are presented by the sea. We’re incredibly fortunate to enjoy beautiful beaches on our doorstep and we’re pleased to welcome visitors to Barry Island and our other seafront destinations. This supports our local economy, creates jobs and helps with the ongoing regeneration of Barry. However, it’s important to remember that safety at sea is paramount.
On Sunday, our local Barry RNLI held their annual Mayday fundraiser, which helps to raise awareness of the vital role they play in keeping people safe. I’m delighted that once again this was a major success. It was attended by thousands of people, which is an incredible turnout and demonstrates the huge support and appreciation in our community for the lifeboat volunteers who save lives all year round, particularly during the summer season.
Thank you to everyone who was involved with the event, from the stallholders to the brass band and Barry Community Choir. It all contributed to making it a special day and helped to raise funds to support the operation of Barry Lifeboat.
I pay tribute to the excellent and dedicated team at Barry RNLI. Over the years we’ve worked together to increase awareness and support fundraising to highlight the importance of safety at sea. This includes when I ran the London Marathon for the RNLI to help raise money for the charity. I must say that out of the many charities that I have supported, I received one of the warmest receptions from people across Barry when supporting our RNLI.
There have been particular issues in the past with tombstoning and I am hopeful that, with heightened awareness, there will be fewer instances going forward.
With this in mind, I hope everyone enjoys the sun and makes the most of our beautiful area. If you manage to get some good pictures, be sure to enter them into my Instagram competition by tagging my page (@AlunCairns) with #BestOfBarry or #LoveTheVale
