A trained opera singer has been hitting the high notes and over the last ten years has made more than £10,000 for the RNLI – armed with his voice and a collection bucket.
Since James Hutton and his wife Jane got their holiday cottage in Robin Hood’s Bay in the 1990s, they immersed themselves in local life and made friends in the village.
Splitting their time between Hawes and the Bay, James, who had stopped singing professionally, but wanted to stay tuned, busked for local charities. When he and Jane decided to re-locate permanently to Robin Hood’s Bay ten years ago, their good friends in the village, Jim and Carol Foster, who are involved with the Robin Hood’s Bay branch of the RNLI, persuaded him to sing for RNLI funds.
Over the years he has delighted locals and visitors alike with his singing, and, with the support of Colin Harrison from Staithes and Runswick RNLI, he has also busked in Staithes.
After having raised £2,000 in Staithes and £8,000 in Robin Hood’s Bay, James has been presented with the Certificate of Thanks signed by Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive of the Lifeboat Charity.
Neil Williamson of Whitby RNLI made the presentation at the Hotel Victoria on Monday and arrangements have also been made for James and Jane to have a personal guided tour of Whitby Lifeboat Station and the current Lifeboat, the Lois-Ivan.
