St Agnes RNLI to host ceremony to welcome new D class lifeboat

The lifeboat arrived in October and has already launched five times to people in need. A generous donation from the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club (JEC) has helped to fund the lifeboat, which has been named XKalibur due to its connections with both Cornwall and the Jaguar contribution.

The JEC raised more than £37,250 towards the new inshore lifeboat at St Agnes, which replaces the Blue Peter IV which had come to the end of her operational life. Sincere thanks are also due to local fundraisers whose fantastic efforts over two years brought the final total to £48,000.

Graham Searle, General Manager of JEC, said: ‘Raising money for the RNLI through the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club annual raffle has been a real pleasure and a cause that our members really appreciated. To have the boat named  XKalibur is an honour.

‘I am looking forward to the ceremony and will be proud to know that she will be there to save lives at sea.’

For St Agnes RNLI, XKalibur’s adaptability makes her a particularly useful asset to the crew. The lifeboat is highly manoeuvrable and specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations – often working close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves. It carries up to three crew members and is powered by a 50hp outboard engine.

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Bruce Baker, says: ‘It is a wonderful occasion to formally name and dedicate a new lifeboat. I speak on behalf of everyone at St Agnes RNLI when I say we are extremely grateful to the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club for their generous donation and the local community for their continued support.

‘We welcome our supporters to come down to the beach to watch the ceremony, but please note due to limited space, seating is reserved for invited guests only.’

The event will start at 3pm and run through a set order as follows:

1. National Anthem
2. Gerald Simmons, Chairman of the Lifeboat Management Group, welcomes guests and opens the proceedings.
3. Graham Searle, General Manager of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, hands over the lifeboat to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
4. Rear Admiral Mark Kerr, RNLI Council Member, accepts the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and hands her into the care of the St Agnes lifeboat crew.
5. Bruce Baker, Lifeboat Operations Manager, accepts the boat on behalf of St Agnes Lifeboat Station.
6. The Reverend Canon Ken Boullier leads the Service of Dedication.
7. Rear Admiral Mark Kerr invites Graham Searle to name the D class lifeboat XKalibur.
8. Tom Mansell, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager, gives a Vote of Thanks and closes the proceedings.

Notes to editors
• You, or a representative, are invited to attend the naming ceremony on Saturday 30 April. Please contact Chlӧe Smith or Claire Watkins (contact below) to let them know you’ll be attending and any filming or interview requirements on the day. 
• Attached is a photo of XKalibur D class lifeboat (credit RNLI/St Agnes) and a full programme of events for the day
• Photos will be available after the event.
• Unfortunately there is no parking at the lifeboat station

RNLI media contacts
For more information contact Chlӧe Smith, RNLI Press Officer, on 07920 818807 or email [email protected] or Claire Watkins, St Agnes RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer, on 07977 880802 or [email protected].

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.