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| Christine & Rick Sumner |
In 2021, we said goodbye to Rick: friend, fellow-author and founder member of Hornsea Writers.
A former miner, trawlerman and community leader, Rick and his wife Christine moved to the east coast supposedly to retire. Which didn’t happen. Before you could say ‘miners’ strike’ both were heavily involved in projects within their adopted community.
Christine and her fellow volunteers established lovely gardens from neglected areas. Following the closure of the Hornsea lifeboat station, Rick, inspired by his lifelong love of the sea, was instrumental in the creation of Hornsea Inshore Rescue, an organisation which has saved many lives at sea. Dedicated fund-raising over the years has enabled the volunteers to purchase, crew and maintain the lifeboat, along with its boathouse and popular visitor centre.
Always good company, and with a wealth of jokes and stories derived from his eventful past, Rick was politically active, a champion of the underdog and a man with a social conscience. Rallies and fundraisers apart, he hit upon the idea of harnessing his writing ability in aid of a cause: sales of his ‘Kilby Welfare’ cassettes raised thousands for ex-miners and their communities. This most amiable of men had little time for politicians, and he never forgave Margaret Thatcher for the pit closures. Hopefully he’s still giving her hell!
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| The 2020 HRI Charity Swim - fancy dress optional. |
Each New Year’s Day, we remember Rick, one of the Ideas Men behind the event, as the annual Hornsea Inshore Lifeboat charity swim gets underway. Viciously cold mountainous seas would daunt the bravest, yet hundreds take part (282 swimmers in 2022.) The event is always fun, a showcase for the rescue services, attracting hundreds of visitors and raising incredible amounts for the HIR. A lasting tribute to Rick and his hard-working friends.
So thank you, Rick, for the jokes, the stories, the fun…and for making our little piece of Yorkshire a better place.
A bit more on Rick and his life can be found HERE.
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