FROM JANIE ROBINSON, OWNER OF OSEA LEISURE

Last year's Osea Leisure Lobster Pot Christmas Tree at The Osea View Cafe near Maldon in Essex was a wonderful sight! This Christmas we want to build on what we created and this year we will see another fabulous tree that will more than rival lat year's display and raise vital funds for the RNLI.

We imagine our tree as an East Coast art installation, rooted in the character of our shoreline. Traditional lobster pots will rise among reclaimed rope, fishing nets, old buoys and other materials gathered from the coast, transformed into something beautiful and full of light. Objects shaped by the sea will help us celebrate the people who go out to rescue others. It is our own coastal tribute to the RNLI and the lifesaving work its crews do for everyone who lives, works or spends time by the water.

For me, supporting the RNLI is deeply personal. Sailing runs through generations of my family: my great grandmother owned the barge Dirk, my great grandmother owned the smacks Pioneer and ADC, and my great aunt, Ann Davison, was the first woman to sail solo across the Atlantic, crossing in 1953 aboard the Felicity Ann. That love of the water continues today, with my family and me spending many weekends sailing for pleasure or competing in local races and regattas.

We share the connection with so many families along this coast. Our rivers and estuary are part of everyday life, bringing together sailors, swimmers, kayakers and everyone who enjoys time on the water. The RNLI's volunteer crews stand ready to help when that enjoyment turns in to an emergency. This Christmas we want to celebrate our coastal community while heling fund the training, equipment and lifesaving work we may one day depend on.

We are asking local businesses and suppliers to join us by supporting this year's installation. Sponsor a lobster pot with a donation of £50 or more (and your company's name will be displayed on the tree) and we hope our friends will support the fundraising with donations and Gift Aid.

We plan to light up the Lobster Pot Christmas Tree at The Osea View Cafe on Saturday 14th November between 4pm and 6pm and we would be delighted to see lots of you there.

Together, we can create a memorable Christmas landmark on the Blackwater Estuary and give our local community another reason to come together in support of the RNLI.

With heartfelt thanks,

Janie Robinson

Owner, Osea Leisure Park and The Osea View Cafe

@theoseaview

@osealeisurepark