The family of a Cromer man who was rescued when his ship capsized have reflected his gratitude and respect for the work of lifesavers by donating £10,000 to the RNLI.

John Wilhelmy lived in Cromer until his death last November, aged 89.

He had served in the Navy's Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War and when the whaler he was aboard capsized, he was rescued by a Navy crew.

During the late 1990s Mr Wilhelmy followed the progress of the new lifeboat station being built in Cromer and visited it and the town's Henry Blogg Museum on countless occasions.

He always took an interest in the RNLI and left some investments to the charity in his will.

'Due to the passage of time, that bequest could not be fulfilled when his will was read,' said an RNLI spokesman.

'His family were in no doubt that it was John's firm intention to make the gift and have written a cheque to the RNLI for the equivalent £10,000 in John's memory.'

Everybody will have the chance to look around Cromer Lifeboat Station, see the lifeboat Lester and talk to the crew on May 1 during an 'open boathouse' event from 10am-1pm.

Refreshments will be provided by Cromer Ladies' Lifeboat Guild to help raise money for the town's lifeboat.

? RNLI chiefs have warned the public that from May 8 they will be testing the 10-second siren, used before Cromer lifeboat is launched, on either the first or second Sunday of the month at about 11am.