THE family of a man who always supported the RNLI honoured his memory by raising £6,400.

David Cole died last year aged 58 after a battle with liver cancer. Originally from Bristol, Mr Cole spent the last couple of years of his life on holiday in Weymouth.

When he became too ill to travel abroad on holiday, he and his wife brought a holiday caravan at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth.

Mr Cole’s family said that the RNLI was the only charity that he would support.

His son Mark organised a special golf day in his father’s honour with 150 people attending.

He said: “My dad always supported the RNLI after he was told years ago that they were all volunteers. He would always choose the RNLI to donate to.”

He added that he and his father had bought a boat and had planned to go fishing together in Weymouth Bay but that his father’s health had deteriorated so that they couldn’t go.

He said: “Towards the end Weymouth was a special place for them.”

Mark said that organising the golf day had been a challenge.

He said: “It was a cathartic experience. But I had never organised anything so large in my life.

“It was really good afterwards but it was a bit of a challenge with so many golfers there.

“We had 150 different faces on the day and we wanted to make sure everybody was happy and enjoying themselves. It took a lot of work, luckily we had 20 helpers on the day.”

A cheque for the £6,400 was presented to the Weymouth Lifeboat crew recently. All the money will go towards buying new kit.

Mark said: “We are delighted to be able to help the Weymouth lifeboat crew with new kit with the funds we raised in memory of dad.

“Weymouth will always hold a special place in my family’s hearts now.”

Mark added that he hoped to hold the event again next year.

Kate Ireland, from the RNLI said that Mr Cole’s family’s donation would really help to save lives.

She said: “Mark and his family and friends have done a fantastic job in raising this money in memory of their loved one.

“These funds will ensure the members of Weymouth lifeboat crew are properly equipped to save lives at sea.”