EVENING cruises, a nautical quiz and a summer concert are being held as part of a week of events to raise awareness and funds for the Harwich RNLI.

The annual Harwich Lifeboat Week starts on Monday to highlight the work the charity does saving lives at sea.

A week of events launches with a sing-a-long screening of Grease on Monday at the Electric Palace.

On Tuesday, there will be a nautical quiz at The Alma, on Wednesday a seafood demonstration and tasting at the Harwich Town Sailing Club, and on Thursday a talk by Richard Woodman at the lifeboat station on the Merchant Navy during the First World War.

Friday will see a fish and chip evening cruise on SB Victor from the Ha’penny Pier and those remaining ashore can enjoy various sea shanty groups around old Harwich.

On Saturday, July 29, there are three-hour cruises on SB Victor from the Ha’penny Pier, three visits to the Harwich Haven Authority control room, the Colchester Brass Band playing a summer concert at 3pm from the LV18 at Harwich Quay and there will also be six vintage Rolls Royce cars giving rides from outside the lifeboat station.

During the weekend the Harwich Town Sailing Club will be hosting a beer festival.

On Sunday, July 30, the Rotary Club of Harwich and Dovercourt and Harwich RNLI will host the annual Sea Festival.

Tickets for the various events and activities are available from the Harwich Society ticket office on the Ha’penny Pier.

David Thurston, lifeboat operations manager, said: “The Lifeboat Week takes place to raise public awareness of the local lifeboat station in the community and enables supporters to see how the money raised is used.

“Throughout the week, the lifeboat station is open to the public.

“Being a charity, we receive no government funding, so in order to operate we need to continually raise funds.”