Hoylake Lifeboat
Hoylake Lifeboat
RNLI flags in the wind
Hoylake Lifeboat Station’s annual Open Day took place on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August at the Lifeboat Station on the promenade. The event is to raise funds for the RNLI which is funded by charitable donations. Lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved around 139,900 lives at sea since 1824. This year’s event raised around £20,000 for the RNLI.
Crowd enjoy the Open Day
Ice Cream van
Hoylake Lifeboat Museum
The event usually attracts a large crowd and despite the wind and rain it was estimated that almost 20,000 Wirral residents turned out for the event this year.
Mad Max fun fair ride
There are a range of attractions including air displays, a funfair rides, charity stalls, street theatre, an historic transport display, raffles, and tours of the town’s lifeboat and the Lifeboat Museum.
Wallasey Corporation bus
Birkenhead Corporation bus
Birkenhead Corpration bus
Wallasey Corporation bus
Birkenhead Corporation bus
The highlight is usually a display by the world famous Red Arrows display team. They returned this year after having to pull out last year following a tragic accident where two pilots were killed in a display in Bournemouth just before being scheduled to appear at Hoylake.
Red Arrows red white and blue
Red Arrows low level
Prior to the event, there were concerns that the dispaly team would be unable to put on their show due to low lying clouds and bad weather conditions.
Red Arrows arrow formation
Red Arrows close formation
However the event received the all clear and the organisers cleared the beach area and the crowd were entertained by a low level flying display in front of the promenade and across the Dee Estuary.
Red Arrows smoke trails
Red Arrows low level 2
Given the poor light, a slow telephoto lens and jets flying at great speed I had to boost the film speed on my camera to the max to be able to get my shots of the aerobatic display. This has meant that they are a little grainy but it all adds to the atmosphere of the display.
Red Arrows vapour trails
Red Arrows full formation
As the light faded the Red Arrows completed their display and flew out to sea and back to their visiting base at Hawarden Airfield where they stay overnight before flying to Bournemouth on 29th August to take part in an air display at Torbay.
Red Arrows cross over
Red Arrows out to sea
briansimpsons 
You did so well with the Red Arrows! Fab photos. Loved the old Birkenhead Corporation buses too.
Hi Isabel
Thanks for the comments. It was a really good location to photograph the Red Arrows as they came sweeping down along the beach at Hoylake.
Brian
wow, brilliant photos. great post
Hi thanks for the comments. It was a good day the rain kept away in the afternoon for the Red Arrows.