Bude’s RNLI Lifeboat Day 2025 was another fantastic community event – and this year Connect Bude was delighted to be part of it once again. With brilliant sunshine, a packed event, and plenty of engagement throughout the day, our stand proved popular with both visitors and locals alike.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters who gave up their time to help on the stand, including Mike Moore, Lynne Gannon, and Ros Stow who covered the busy morning shift (photo above!). The volunteers enthusiasm and local knowledge helped spread the word about our campaign for better bus services and the long-overdue return of a railway connection to North Cornwall.
Stronger engagement and better data
This year’s RNLI Day proved especially valuable for Connect Bude. Compared with Heritage Day earlier in the summer, we collected a greater amount of feedback and travel data, giving us a clearer picture of local and visitor transport needs.
Key findings include:
- Balanced age profile – unlike Heritage Day, which skewed towards older respondents, Lifeboat Day attracted a good mix across all age groups.
- Dominant demand for long-distance travel – while some interest in local Cornwall connections was recorded, the data shows far greater demand for direct links to London, Bristol, and Exeter, spread evenly across all age brackets.
- And as usual – Positive support for campaigning – the overwhelming response from the public reinforced the importance of our mission: better connectivity is vital for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
Building momentum
Every conversation we had on Lifeboat Day confirmed that improved transport links are not just a local issue – they are a national concern for those who want to reach and enjoy Bude. Whether for work, study, or leisure, people repeatedly told us that the lack of rail and reliable bus connections is holding the town back.
Events like these help us gather real evidence to take to decision-makers, while also growing our community of supporters. We’re incredibly grateful for the encouragement shown at Lifeboat Day and look forward to turning this momentum into action.
We hope you can join us before our next event, and perhaps volunteer your time on the stand too!
