We Love The News - supporter Alan from Hayling Island explains how The News has helped save lives

Sometimes featuring high drama, sinking ships, and drowning sailors, and other times the more mundane makes the pages, such as broken down boats, cut off dog walkers, and kids stuck in the mud.

Over the years, The News has featured countless stories about rescues at sea, which inevitably involved the lifeboat and the work of the RNLI.

Alan Bartlett, from Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, said this coverage is more than just entertainment, it also serves a valuable purpose in raising awareness and keeping people safe.

Alan, 79, said: ‘In a year we can go out to about 80 shouts, we can’t write stories about all of them, but we do highlight the significant shouts, where we have rescued someone from drowning or from the threat of drowning.

‘The News has always been interested in our work. We get such positive responses.

‘It is wonderful to have publicity and it is vital to the RNLI.’

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Alan, a keen sailor, worked for many years in education as a head teacher, before retiring in 2011.

At a friend's wake, he got chatting to Jonathan Bradbury, who runs the lifeboat station on Hayling, and he suggested Alan volunteered as press officer.

Now nine years later, Alan has written hundreds of stories - from boats suck on sandbanks to overturned fishermen.

Alan, of Spinnaker Grange, said: ‘You have to be careful as the reputation of the RNLI is vital to the charity.

‘Of course The News will run negative stories and cover things that have gone wrong, but it also carries the good news.

‘It features people enjoying themselves on open days, the sun shining with boats whizzing up and down, and that’s good for the com munity.

‘Many local newspapers are fast disappearing, but they are an important vehicle for communication between people.

‘People can find things out, they can learn about the RNLI, and perhaps even volunteer. It is a great service for the area.’

The News has launched it We Love The News campaign in order to promote the many good reasons to buy a paper.

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