Caister Lifeboat cheque presentation

THE father of a five-year-old boy who drowned off the Norfolk coast has presented a �7,386 cheque to Caister lifeboat crews after fundraising for East Anglian life saving organisations.

THE father of a five-year-old boy who drowned off the Norfolk coast has presented a �7,386 cheque to Caister lifeboat crews after fundraising for East Anglian life saving organisations.

Kevin Parker, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire was motivated to help the rescue services after witnessing their efforts during the search for his son Jake Parker, who went missing in the sea off Brancaster on August 13, 2000.

Lifeboat crews joined 40 police officers, coastguards, two RAF Sea King helicopters and dozens of volunteers to try and find the youngster who vanished while paddling near the water's edge.

Mr Parker was joined by relatives and fundraisers for the cheque presentation to Caister Lifeboat chairman Paul Garrod at the lifeboat station in Tan Lane on Thursday .

He said: “The lifeboat crews and Sea King helicopters were out for three days taking part in the search so I thought as they had done me a favour, if I can help them by raising money for them then I will.”

Jake's grandfather Bernie Parker was also present for the cheque handover along with fundraisers Sandra McGrath, a stewardess at the Wellingborough WMC and 16-year-old Calum Haggan who underwent a leg wax to raise �200 for the Caister lifeboat.

In total, the fundraisers raised over �10,000 for East Anglian rescue services including �2,500 for the Sea Kings based at Wattisham in Suffolk.

Mr Parker chose the independent lifeboat station because it needed �160,000 a year to operate.

Mr Garrod said: “Obviously we would rather have not accepted the money under these circumstances, but it is a great job that Kevin and everyone from the Wellingborough area has done. To raise this money for us is absolutely fantastic and this will go towards the day-to-day running of the lifeboat.”