Fylingthorpe singer and guitarist Steve Phillips, who played with the British rock band's frontman Mark Knopfler in the Notting Hillbillies, was asked to headline the one-off gig at a festival in front of a large audience in the Italian Dolomites.

But kind-hearted Steve, who doesn't charge a penny for his appearances for the lifeboat, told the promoter he had a more important date at the Friendship Rowing Club on Saturday 5 December.

It's not the first time Steve has put the RNLI first – in 2007 he turned down the chance to play at Glastonbury so as not to disappoint his fans at the 120 capacity Friendship.

In the past six years Steve and his local band, The Rough Diamonds, have raised more than £10,000 for the lifeboat from his twice yearly gigs at the venue, with the cash going directly to Whitby Lifeboat's operating costs.

At the festival he would have joined saxophonist Chris White, who joined Dire Straits on their two final world tours, and the band's backing vocalist and bassist John Illsley, the only member of Dire Straits to remain with the band from the start in 1977 until it disbanded in 1995.

Steve said: "The promoter rang me and offered me a gig for Sunday 6 December but I said 'there's no way I can get there I'm doing a charity gig the day before'.

"He had been trying to get me to do it for ages.

"He knows I do the charity gigs and I said I can't cancel it, I don't want to let people down,it's as simple as that. I'm a man of my word.

"I look forward to doing the gig at the Friendship, it's a great-sized venue and it's got a buzz about it.

"I would rather play there than anywhere else.

"I've lived here for 20 years now and the RNLI affects everyone locally.

"They do a fantastic job, they are a wonderful bunch of guys."

Organiser of the Whitby gig, Graham Holmes, told the Whitby Gazette: "Steve has never taken any personal payment, and all members of the band work at a reduced rate.

"He is a professional to the end, and as such will not hear of cancelling or moving the Whitby gig, to play in Italy.

"We are extremely grateful for his commitment and continued support, but not surprised by his generosity."

Tickets for the gig on Saturday 5 December at the Friendship Rowing Club are priced £10.

They are available from The Sutcliffe Gallery in Flowergate, Whitby Lifeboat shop and museum or call Graham on (01947) 895981 or 07812 759507.

Doors open at 7.30pm and numbers are limited as half the tickets have already been sold.