STOURBRIDGE’S branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is pushing the boat out to raise funds at its cheese and wine tasting evening.

The event, taking place on Friday August 14 at Halfpenny Green Vineyards, will raise money for training the RNLI’s volunteer crews at the New Quay lifeboat station.

On service at the station since 1992 is the Mersey class lifeboat the “Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge”.

The fundraising event will see experts from the Vineyard will be talking about the wines, their production, and how to appreciate them, as well as giving an opportunity to buy award-winning wines and other locally produced delicacies during the evening from the Shop and Deli.

Chris Fonteyn, RNLI branch chairman, said: “We are very grateful to Halfpenny Green Vineyards for agreeing to host this event and are hoping for a fine summer’s evening so that we can taste the Vineyard’s fine wines outside in its stunning surroundings and, of course, the speciality cheeses it has to offer.

“The RNLI’s crews and lifeguards are really busy this time of year and training for the crews is all important, especially as so many of the volunteer crew members come from a non-maritime background.

“We do hope that people will come along to what should prove to be a very enjoyable social fundraising evening with, of course, the inevitable raffle.”

Tickets for the evening, which starts at 7pm, cost £8 per person and are available by calling Chris Fonteyn on 01384 376865.