Pembrokeshire Business Raises £16,000 for Local RNLI Crews

Pembrokeshire-based Ascona Group has donated an impressive £16,000 to Angle Lifeboat and Milford Haven RNLI, helping to support the lifesaving work of local volunteer crews.

The donation was presented by the company's CEO, Darren Briggs, to Angle RNLI Coxswain Lewis Creese during a visit to Milford Haven.

As part of the visit, members of the Ascona team were given a tour of Angle's Tamar class lifeboat, the Mark Mason, gaining an insight into the challenges faced by crews responding to emergencies at sea.

The money was raised through the Making a Difference Locally initiative, which Ascona operates in partnership with Nisa Retail. The scheme generates funds through sales of Co-op branded products in participating stores, with the money going towards charities and community organisations.

For Darren, the donation is particularly meaningful. Having grown up in Milford Haven, he also has a family connection to the town's maritime history. The Ascona Group takes its name from a fishing trawler owned by his great-grandfather, Charles, which operated between Milford Haven and Lowestoft during the 1950s.

Speaking about the donation, Darren said:

“Milford Haven is where I grew up and it has always been very close to my heart, so being able to give something back locally means a great deal to me,”

Ascona Group operates 70 roadside destinations across England, Wales and Scotland, each with a Nisa convenience store.

The £16,000 contribution will help support the RNLI's vital work in keeping people safe on the water.