A CREW member of Penarth Lifeboat Station was presented with a letter of thanks for his efforts in saving a man from the water.

Karl Laurence's honour was handed to him a quiz night which was one of two fundraising events which have helped Penarth RNLI reach £35,000 towards a new boat in just five months.

Two crew members organised the quiz night and a curry night in aid of the appeal for Penarth's new D class lifeboat which is being supported by the Penarth Times.

On Tuesday, November 22, crew member Kath Fisher helped to organise a pub quiz which was hosted by the Windsor on Windsor Road.

Organisers say there was a "really good turnout" which included many members of the RNLI crew from the Penarth station.

Winners received a £40 cash prize and £160 was raised towards the cause.

A Penarth RNLI spokesman said they would like to thank Mike and the Windsor pub for their help and support.

There was also the opportunity to present lifeboat helm and training coordinator Karl Laurence with a letter of thanks from the RNLI for his efforts in rescuing a person from the water last year.

He had played a leading role in rescuing a man who had jumped into the water from Penarth Pier and was struggling in the fast flowing water in September 2015.

On Saturday, November 26, crew member and tractor driver Huw Pickford, the steward of Penarth Yacht Club, organised a curry night donating proceeds to the lifeboat appeal.

A further £160 was raised towards the new D class lifeboat

This brings the total raised since the start of the appeal in July to £35k which is well on the way to the £52,000 needed for the new boat.

Jason Dunlop, lifeboat operations manager for Penarth RNLI paid tribute to those who have helped the appeal get off to such a good start in the first five months of the appeal.

He said: "Funding to date has come from a wide range of local organisations, together with larger corporate donations.

"It is great to see the community, crew, and other, together with the Penarth Times, get behind our appeal and bring us ever closer to our fundraising target.

"Thank you all for your help and support, and we look forward to your continued support in the new year," he said.

Please help us raise the money by getting involved.

No matter how big or small your fundraising event or idea, let us know and we will help publicise it.

We will also try to cover as many events as possible.

Anyone who helps raise money will get special recognition with a Penarth Times certificate and be mentioned in a roll call which will be published regularly.

Send any fundraising ideas to reporter Anthony Lewis at penarthtimes@penarthtimes.co.uk or contact the appeal team at penarth@rnli.org.uk.

To donate directly send a cheque made payable to Penarth Lifeboat Appeal to Penarth Lifeboat Station, The Esplanade, Penarth, CF64 3AU.

You can also donate online by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/penarthlifeboatappeal1.