Penlee RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Mollie and Ivor Dent is officially named

The event took place in beautiful sunshine in front of a crowd of hundreds of invited guests and onlookers.

The Atlantic class lifeboat arrived at Penlee lifeboat station in August 2016, funded by the late Mollie and Ivor Dent. Ivor was a naval man with a love of the sea, he and Mollie spent many holidays on the Isles of Scilly, growing to know the area around Penzance really well.

Ivor sadly died when he was 58, after a short illness. Mollie remained living in Newbury until she died at the age of 88. They were a very close couple and it was the dearest wish of both of them to have a lifeboat named after them.

Ivor’s sister and several nieces and nephews attended the naming ceremony and all are thrilled that the couple’s wish has been fulfilled. Michael Blankley, the couple’s nephew handed the B class lifeboat over to the RNLI, which was accepted on behalf of the charity by Abbie Cranage, the RNLI’s Area Lifesaving Manager and accepted on behalf of Penlee RNLI by Andrew Munson, the stations volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager.

Ivor’s sister, Joan Blankley and his niece Lynda Rogerson officially named the lifeboat Mollie and Ivor Dent before the volunteer lifeboat crew gave a quick demonstration of the manoeuvrability of the lifeboat within the small compound of the harbour to guests.

Dave Pascoe, Second Coxswain closed the ceremony by thanking those who attended, he said:

‘Thank you all for coming to our naming ceremony today and for the amazing support you always give the Penlee RNLI. A special thanks must go to the family and friends of the late Molly and Ivor Dent who have travelled far and wide to make it here today and we are thrilled to be able to share with them the naming and dedication of the new inshore lifeboat.’

Notes to editors

• Please find attached four images taken of the naming ceremony, credit Tim Stevens

For more information please contact Elaine Trethowan, RNLI Press Officer, on 0770 466 or [email protected], or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Public Relations Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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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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