Singer/songwriter Peter Afendoulis has rewritten a song he wrote nearly 30 years ago dedicated to Blyth men who risk their lives to save others at sea.

The 60-year-old ex-trawlerman who used to live in the town for many years until recently, is hoping to re-release Lifeboatmen of Blyth after organisers in the town set up the BVVL which aims to get an off-shore lifeboat back in Blyth after the Windsor Runner service was cut last month.

Although he now lives in Birtley, Peter has joined forces with BVVL organisers Ian Woodhouse and John Tuttiett by rewriting two of the verses to help promote the recently launched fundraising campaign.
He said: "The song was released on an album in 1978 but I wrote the song a few years before that.

"At that time the song was broadcast live on Radio Newcastle and even played in schools.

"But I hope to get it re-released for the BVVL."
Peter is known across the area for his folk singing and often performs at various clubs, events and functions.

He even joined the Mayor of Blyth Valley, Coun Kath Nisbet and Mayoress, Coun Margaret Rochester as well as BVVL organisers to help promote the campaign in Blyth market place at the weekend.

Meanwhile, lifeboat campaigners have seen more than £800 collected on a market stall to help bring an off shore boat back to Blyth.

Members of Blyth Valley Voluntary Lifeboat (BVVL) joined Mayor of Blyth Valley, Coun Kath Nisbet and Mayoress, Coun Margaret Rochester to set up a stall in Blyth Town Centre's Saturday market raising funds from the sale of goods with the BVVL emblem.

The cash raised will go towards the £120,000 needed to bring a deep water all-weather lifeboat back to the town after the RNLI's decision to axe Blyth's Windsor Runner, and a further £30,000 a year to meet running, maintenance and training costs.

BVVL member Ian Woodhouse said: "We had a stall in the market place on Saturday and raised over £800 which is quite exciting. We certainly seem to have a lot of the public behind us."

Local singer/songwriter, Peter Afendoulis, who has re-written a song dedicated to Blyth's lifesavers, also spent the day in the market place performing Lifeboatmen of Blyth for members of the public.

Organisers now hope to make the market stall a regular event.

"We hope to do this every Saturday," Ian added. "All the money is going to help but it's not going to happen overnight. It will take a long time but it is going along nicely."

The goods on sale, all marked with the BVVL logo, include cotton polo shirts £12, cotton T-shirts £9, sweatshirts £15, fleeces £21 and Kip, the mascot bear £12, as well as ribbons and car stickers.

Anyone wanting to help with the fundraising cause or who are interested in ordering any of the goods can contact Ian Woodhouse on (01670) 364 331 or MP Ronnie Campbell's office in Renwick Road, Blyth, on (01670) 363 050.