A WOMAN whose love of the sea was forged growing up in Weymouth has left a substantial donation to the town's lifeboat in her will.

Peter Antram visited the lifeboat station to hand over a cheque in memory of his late wife Carline, nee Sargent, who was born and bred in Wyke Regis before moving away near to London in the 1970s.

However she never forgot her home town and her connection with the sea. As a young girl she was a keen swimmer with Weymouth Swimming Club and she also held a lifeguard qualification.

In recent years she suffered from a rare condition which led to her passing away early last year, not though, before she told Peter that she wanted to donate a substantial sum of money to the brave volunteer crews of Weymouth lifeboat station.

So Peter, wanting to carry out Carline's wishes, made the trip to Weymouth where he met several of the crew including Coxswain Andy Sargent, who although sharing the same surname is no relation to Carline.

Having met some of the volunteer crew Peter promised that he would be back again and would keep in contact with the station.

A RNLI spokes person said: "Donations and legacies make up a large proportion of the money that we need to operate and we would encourage everyone to consider making a donation to the RNLI in their will.

"Your legacy will be the lifeboat that ploughs through gale-force winds to reach people in distress, the training that keeps our crews and lifeguards safe, the protective kit they can rely on. Your legacy. Our lifeline.

"Our crew members and lifeguards are ordinary people, just like you. A gift in your will can buy the training, kit and equipment to keep our lifesavers safe as they face wild seas to rescue people in an emergency.

"Just as RNLI lifeboat crews are made up of ordinary people, so too are the people who put gifts in their wills to charity. You don’t have to be rich. Whatever you can afford, you can make a difference."