Falmouth RNLI are presented a commemorative quilt to mark 150th anniversary

The quilt was presented to Falmouth RNLI representatives at Gloucester Docks during a special 150^th event held by Gloucester RNLI over the weekend of 29 and 30 July.

At the historic event in Gloucester in 1867, the lifeboat was named City of Gloucester and launched into the docks in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people before being transported to Falmouth a few days later. The link between Falmouth and Gloucester RNLI has continued and the idea of a having a commemorative quilt made to present to Falmouth came about after Gloucester RNLI volunteer Fraser Gunn gave a talk to the patchwork and quilters group about the City of Gloucester lifeboat.

The Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters group agreed to take on the project and after Fraser suggested the idea of including the Gloucestershire, Cornwall and RNLI flags, a design by local secondary school design teacher, Joy Salvage, was chosen. A group of 16, led by Anne Underhill, took on the various aspects of construction and the quilt was completed in June 2017.

The quilt was presented to Mark Killingback, Chair of the Falmouth RNLI Appeal Committee and Paul Wickes MBE, Deputy Chair of the Falmouth RNLI Appeal Committee at Gloucester Docks and handed over to Falmouth Coxswain Jonathan Blakeston at Falmouth RNLI’s quayside service in August.

Jonathan Blakeston said: ‘The station is very grateful to Gloucester RNLI for presenting us with this magnificent quilt and also to Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters group for making it. The quilt will be proudly displayed at the station.’

Notes to editors

• Attached photo 1 shows Mark Killingback (left) and Paul Wickes MBE after being presented with the quilt with a number of the Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters group members behind. Please credit Paul Wickes MBE
• Attached photo 2 shows Mark Killingback (left) presenting the quilt to Falmouth Coxswain Jonathan Blakeston at the quayside service. Please credit Stacie Nicoll.
• Falmouth’s first lifeboat, the City of Gloucester, a 33 foot 10 oared self-righting pulling and sailing lifeboat, served at the station from 1867 to 1887 before being withdrawn from service. During that time the lifeboat launched on 10 occasions but didn’t save any lives.
• The Falmouth RNLI Appeal was launched in March to raise £100,000 towards the cost of improvements to their station in preparation for of the arrival of a new Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat.
• The Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters team was: Anne Underhill; Gill Banks; Mary Davies; Carolyn Edwards; Chris England; Penny Harper; Pam Lander; Shirley Matthews; Celia McTeer; Kim Phillipart; Val Pickard; Joy Salvage; Mon Wake; Liz Wife and Jan Workman.

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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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