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Exmouth’s Shannon class lifeboat R and J Welburn on the water at sunset

How are RNLI lifeboats named?

Photo: RNLI/Harrison Bates

Ever wondered how RNLI lifeboats get their names? From beer and types of cheese to beloved institutions and lifesaving legends, let’s dive into how this tradition first started and find out more about some of the extraordinary people that had RNLI lifeboats named after them …

So, how do lifeboats get their names?

There’s a long tradition of giving names to boats, dating back thousands of years. Ancient sailors would name their boats after gods and saints, hoping for protection and good fortune at sea. It’s also believed that boats were given female names, inspired by mothers, to symbolise crews being delivered to safety. But in truth, there are no rules. Lifeboats can be named after anyone and anything – and they are! 

Over the years, RNLI lifeboat names have been inspired by a number of weird and wonderful things. The Peterborough Beer Festival has helped to fund four lifeboats – the latest, Peterborough Beer Festival IV, went on service in Skegness in 2010. There was also a lifeboat named after cheese: the Mersey class lifeboat Lincolnshire Poacher. And there are even lifeboats named after a much-loved children’s TV show – Blue Peter viewers have funded 28 lifeboats at 7 different stations!

Lifeboats are officially named at naming ceremonies, which have long been an important event at the RNLI, with the first recorded ‘Ceremony of Naming’ taking place in 1855. Today, they’re a brilliant opportunity for local communities to see and celebrate their new lifeboat, and to thank the donors and supporters who made the lifeboat possible. 

Skegness’s D class lifeboat Peterborough Beer Festival IV powers through waves on a cloudy day. There are three crew members onboard the lifeboat

Photo: Martin Fish

Peterborough Beer Festival IV was a D class lifeboat, ideal for searches and rescues in the surf, shallow water and confined locations

From making waves to riding the waves

While some RNLI lifeboat names are inspired by cheese, beer and TV programmes, many are named after people, like lifelong supporters and kind donors who have left us a generous legacy. 

There are also lifeboats named after some of the greatest figures in our 200-year history, people who helped shape the RNLI into the incredible lifesaving service it is today. 

Naming lifeboats after people has long been a fitting way to honour them, keeping their legacy alive for many years to come. 

Sir William Hillary

The RNLI has been saving lives at sea since 1824, thanks to the man who started it all – Sir William Hillary

Painting of RNLI founder, Sir William Hillary. Oil on canvas. Artist unknown. Circa mid 19th century.
Painting of RNLI founder, Sir William Hillary. Circa mid 19th century.

In 1823, Hillary made an impassioned appeal to the nation for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea. A year later, on 4 March 1824, more than 30 gentlemen put their names to the fledgling charity at a public meeting – and Hillary’s vision became a reality.

Sir William Hillary’s vision to save every one remains at the core of the RNLI, and lifeboat crews have saved over 146,000 lives in our 200-year history. So, it’s not surprising that RNLI lifeboats were named in his honour.

In 1930, the RNLI named Dover’s new lifeboat after Hillary which, like him, was one of a kind. It was the first fast motor lifeboat in the RNLI’s fleet and was twice as fast as other motor lifeboats at the time. The crew of Sir William Hillary received Medals for Gallantry and Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for rescuing 16 crew members from the stricken trawler Blackburn Rovers.

Dover’s 1930 fast motor lifeboat, Sir William Hillary

Photo: RNLI

Dover’s 1930 fast motor lifeboat, Sir William Hillary

Grace Darling

On 7 September 1838, Grace Darling risked her life to rescue the stranded survivors of the wrecked steamship Forfarshire. Grace and her father William Darling rowed for almost a mile through ferocious waves and powerful winds to reach them. 

The Rescue of the SS Forfarshire by Grace Darling. Oil on canvas painting by artist F. S. Lowther in 1886.

Photo: Thomas Brooks

The Rescue of the SS Forfarshire by Grace Darling. Oil on canvas painting by artist F. S. Lowther in 1886.

There have been five lifeboats named after Grace Darling, including a Liverpool class lifeboat which was stationed at Seahouses (formerly North Sunderland) from 1954 to 1967. 

In 1959, Thomas Dawson, the coxswain of the Grace Darling, was awarded a Bronze Medal for Gallantry for his bravery when rescuing a man stranded on a cliff. With the man hanging on the edge of the rocky cliff face, struggling to grab hold of a line – and most of the crew unable to swim – Dawson courageously swam through treacherous waters to bring the man to safety. 

Seahouses’ Liverpool class lifeboat, Grace Darling

Photo: RNLI/Beken of Cowes

Seahouses’ Liverpool class lifeboat, Grace Darling

As one of the Victorian era’s most celebrated heroines, several RNLI lifeboats were named after Grace. Her courage continues to inspire people today and her legacy lives on at the RNLI Grace Darling Museum in Bamburgh, where you can learn more about her story.

Samuel Plimsoll

In 1871, a storm hit the East Yorkshire coast causing at least 23 ships to run aground or be wrecked against the harbour walls. Bridlington crew members onboard their lifeboat the Harbinger were attempting to save the crew of the brig Delta when a wave capsized the lifeboat. Tragically, six of the nine local men onboard lost their lives. 

The disaster encouraged MP Samuel Plimsoll to campaign for a new law that required load lines to be painted on the side of ships, preventing them from being overloaded and sinking. ‘Plimsoll Lines’, as they became known, are still used in international shipping to this day.

Just like the lines on ships, there was an RNLI lifeboat named after Samuel to honour his sea safety campaigning. Samuel Plimsoll was stationed at Lowestoft from 1876 until 1905, launching 83 times and saving 165 lives.

Lowestoft’s Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat, Samuel Plimsoll
Lowestoft’s Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat, Samuel Plimsoll

James Stevens

In 1894, Mr James Stevens of Birmingham left a total of £50,000 in his Will as a gift to the RNLI after he passed away. This was one of the largest legacies in the charity’s history and, even today, this amount of money would be a huge donation. 

James’s legacy helped to fund 20 RNLI lifeboats, each named after him – 18 of the 20 were pulling and sailing lifeboats, with the other two being steam-powered. The lifeboats were part of the RNLI’s fleet for over 30 years until 1933 and were stationed all around the UK and Ireland, including Campbeltown, Angle, Padstow, Dover and Holyhead. 

Crew onboard RNLI lifeboat James Stevens No.3.

Photo: RNLI

James Stevens No.3  was on service for 30 years

In total, crews of the 20 James Stevens lifeboats saved 1,072 lives. And while we don’t know much about who James Stevens was or his connection to the RNLI, we know that his legacy was a lifesaver.

Queen Victoria

Her Majesty Queen Victoria was Patron of the RNLI for 64 years, from 1837 until her death in 1901, making her one of the RNLI’s longest serving Patrons. In 1860, Queen Victoria granted the RNLI a Royal Charter.

Three lifeboats were named after the RNLI’s then-Patron. The first Queen Victoria lifeboat was stationed at Bembridge from 1887 until 1902. It was a self-righting pulling lifeboat, costing £440. 

 
Princess Mary of Battenburg attending the naming ceremony of RNLI lifeboat Queen Victoria in 1887

Photo: RNLI

RNLI lifeboat Queen Victoria, stationed at Bembridge Lifeboat Station, 1887-1902

In 1902, a second Queen Victoria lifeboat arrived at Bembridge in recognition of Queen Victoria’s passing, which then served at Porthoustock from 1922 until 1931.

The third Queen Victoria lifeboat was stationed at St Peter Port from 1929 until 1940, which later served at Killybegs and was also part of the RNLI’s relief fleet.

A Shannon class lifeboat with identifying number 13-03 on the roof of the wheelhouse showing how it will be made up of loved one's names

RNLI/Harrison Bates

Your loved one’s name will be added to the wheelhouse.

You can add someone’s name to a lifeboat

Wondering how to name a boat yourself? Is there someone special you’d like to commemorate? You can add their name to a lifeboat. 

Whether there’s someone in your life you wish to celebrate, or a loved one you dearly miss, you can add their name to a special Launch a Memory lifeboat. 

Your loved one’s name will feature in the numbers and letters on top of the wheelhouse of a Shannon class lifeboat, so they’ll proudly ride the waves with the lifeboat crew as they launch to the rescue. Not only is it a lasting and meaningful way to honour someone special to you, it will also mean so much to the brave volunteers and the people they rescue. Every name added to a lifeboat helps save lives at sea.

Find out more about Launch a Memory and how you can add your loved one’s name to a lifeboat.

Add your loved one’s name

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