HARWICH’S lifeboat has been a vital part of the town for decades – but it has not been without help from the community.

Every year, residents choose to donate funds to the life-saving charity, hosting events to stump up the cash to keep the service going.

In the early 1960s, the town came together to raise money to give the inshore lifeboat a ship to shore radio.

Tony Colbourne’s father Ray, who was a councillor at the time, helped with the fundraising.

Mr Colbourne said: “It was the first time the inshore lifeboat had ship-to-shore radio with the help of fundraising of the town.

“My father was president and he and his party raised the money.

“They used to save money by having dances for the local people.

“They raised money for wherever people needed it and this was one of their projects.

“It was a ship-to-shore radio and the first one as the lifeboat couldn’t afford it.

“This was such an asset to the RNLI in their good work.”

If you have any memories of times gone by in Harwich or Manningtree, or old photographs you would like to share, e-mail the newsroom on hms.news@nqe.com or call 01255 254222.