Staithes and Runswick RNLI lifeboat blessed at a special ceremony

A crowd of 50 gathered at the Runswick balcony to greet the Pride of Leicester.  Among those present was Margaret Clark of Runswick Bay, whose great-great grandfather Andrew Clark was coxswain of the first lifeboat, Sheffield, in 1866.

Representing the modern lifeboat was its youngest crew member 19-year-old Luke Hutchinson of Staithes, helmsman Phil Williams and Richard Sykes

The blessing of the boat and station was given by the Rev. Harry Nel, a former chaplain of the lifeboat station. Neil Anderson of Runswick Bay, chairman of the station, gave a champagne toast to the crew.

On Sunday, a reception will be held at 5.30pm in Runswick Fishermen’s Institute to mark the anniversary, featuring an exhibition of historic photographs of the lifeboats and crews of Runswick Bay.

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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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