25 years and still going strong for Lil in Rhyl RNLI
The all-weather lifeboat RNLB Lil Cunningham celebrated 25 years as station boat at Rhyl on 18th June 2017.
The Mersey-class lifeboat has stood sentinel over the beaches and seas off Rhyl since 1992, saving hundreds of lives, and launching to all types of craft and vessels in her time. The lifeboat is launched on average over 20 times a year, as well as launching on fortnightly exercises and displays.
Her crew are rightly proud of their station boat, but they realise that in today's high-speed world, a boat which is capable of 15 knots is fairly slow. The crew were delighted that they have been allocated a new 25-knot Shannon-class lifeboat by the RNLI, which will replace 'Lil' by 2019.
However, the present time is the right time to celebrate a quarter-century of service to the North-East coast of Wales. 'Lil' will be launching at 10am on Sunday 25 June and the crew will wish her Happy Birthday on that day.
Paul Frost MBE, Deputy second coxswain says 'I remember seeing 'Lil' in Poole RNLI headquarters as we went for training on her, a week before she was sailed by the crew round the coast to take up station at Rhyl. Seeing her for the first time made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up with awe and pride!'
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
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