Clear blue skies for Bridlington RNLI's historic day
Crowds gathered on Saturday 21 April to see Bridlington RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat being officially named.
Dr John Sentamu The Archbishop of York along with the Reverend Mathew Pollard conducted the service which included the blessing of the boathouse and lifeboat.
The Archbishop said: 'It is always a privilege to be able to spend time with those who risk their lives in the service of others. Our lifeboat crews do extraordinary work whatever hazards that they may face.'
The charity's new lifeboat was named after a local man Antony Patrick Jones who bequeathed a substantial amount to Bridlington RNLI. This generous bequest mainly funded the lifeboat stations new Shannon.
Antony Patrick Jones was an only child who spent most of his childhood and adult life in Bridlington. He was a keen horseman and was involved with assisting Riding for the Disabled.
His mother the late, Mrs Constance Jones, was an active member of the Bridlington Ladies Lifeboat Guild.
Bridlington RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Keith Turnbull, said: 'Our volunteer crew has enthusiastically embraced the new Shannon class lifeboat. It gives them real peace of mind knowing that her advanced technology enables them to reach people a lot more quickly and further offshore.
'The naming ceremony was a very special day in our station's history and will mark a new chapter in the station's lifesaving.'
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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.