Former Redcar RNLI Honorary President Lord Zetland remembered
Representatives from the Redcar RNLI lifeboat station recently attended a memorial service for its late Honorary President, Lawrence Mark Dundas, the 4th Marquess of Zetland, known informally as Mark Zetland.
The service was attended by an estimated 400 people in St Mary’s Parish Church in Richmond, North Yorkshire, close to the family home at Aske Hall.
Dave Cocks, Chairman of Redcar RNLI was accompanied by retired Launching Authority Dave Holgate. At the request of the Dundas family the RNLI standard, carried by OC Ethan, a member of the Redcar Sea Cadets, was positioned outside the church to greet guests as they arrived for the service. The late marquess was also President of Redcar Sea Cadets.
Dave Cocks said: ‘It was only right that we attended the memorial service to pay our respects to Lord Zetland. The family’s links with the lifeboats at Redcar go back to the very beginning of the 19th century when the first craft came to Redcar in 1802.’
That lifeboat was constructed by Henry Greathead, the man credited with building the world’s first lifeboats, on the instruction of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Dundas. Thomas’ son Lawrence became the Earl of Zetland, resulting in the lifeboat being given the name “Zetland”, in recognition of the support given by the Dundas family to Redcar lifeboat station.
Dave Cocks added: ‘We were saddened to learn of the death of Mark Zetland but we’re honoured and delighted that his son Robin, now the 5th Marquess of Zetland, has accepted our invitation to become our honorary president, maintaining the centuries-old link.’
Notes to Editors
Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802.
Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Andy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, Redcar RNLI on 07954 435834 or 01642 484491 or email [email protected]
Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (North and East): [email protected]
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