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Generous £42,000 Donation Honours over 30 Years of Dedication to RNLI Jersey
10/07/2026
RNLI Jersey is delighted to announce an extraordinary donation of £42,000 from The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust, recognising the remarkable fundraising efforts of local supporter Colin Shales.
Since 1991, Colin has been a familiar face at St. Catherine’s, where he has dedicated countless hours to making and selling handcrafted items in support of the RNLI. Through his unwavering commitment and generosity, he has raised an incredible £42,000 to help support the charity’s lifesaving work around Jersey’s coastline.
In recognition of this outstanding achievement, The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust has generously matched the total Colin has raised over the years with a further £42,000 donation. The combined contribution of £84,000 represents a significant investment in the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea.
Colin’s dedication has inspired thousands of islanders and visitors alike, with many stopping at St. Catherine’s over the years to support his fundraising efforts. His passion for the RNLI and commitment to helping keep Jersey’s waters safe has made a lasting impact on the charity and the local community.
Jonathan Jones, the Lifeboat Operations Manager for the RNLI St Catherine's station said:
“Colin’s commitment over the last three decades has been nothing short of extraordinary. To devote so much of his time to supporting our volunteer crews is truly inspiring.
In recognition of this outstanding achievement, The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust has generously matched the total Colin has raised over the years with a further £42,000 donation. The combined contribution of £84,000 represents a significant investment in the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea.
Colin’s dedication has inspired thousands of islanders and visitors alike, with many stopping at St. Catherine’s over the years to support his fundraising efforts. His passion for the RNLI and commitment to helping keep Jersey’s waters safe has made a lasting impact on the charity and the local community.
Jonathan Jones, the Lifeboat Operations Manager for the RNLI St Catherine's station said:
“Colin’s commitment over the last three decades has been nothing short of extraordinary. To devote so much of his time to supporting our volunteer crews is truly inspiring.
We are incredibly grateful not only to Colin for his years of dedication but also to The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust for this exceptional gesture of matching the total raised so far by Colin and his late wife, Lillian. Together, these contributions will help ensure our local volunteer lifeboat crews have the equipment, training and resources they need to continue saving lives at sea.”
RNLI Jersey extends its heartfelt thanks to Colin, The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust, and everyone who has supported his fundraising over the past 36 years. Every donation helps ensure the charity’s local volunteer crews are ready to answer the call whenever they are needed.
