When Tynemouth RNLI volunteer crewman Michael Brown and his wife Laura's new baby Harry was born, his Christening was only ever going to take place aboard Tynemouth RNLI station's Severn class all weather lifeboat 'Spirit of Northumberland'.
Adrian Don/RNLI
29 April 2018 RNLI Lifeboat christening - Harry Thomas Michael Brown is christened on board Tynemouth RNLI station's Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland by Revd Canon Glyn Evans in front of proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow RNLI lifeboat crewmembers. Please credit Adrian Don/RNLI
In a delightful ceremony held in beautiful weather on Sunday (April 29) afternoon at Tynemouth RNLI station, local vicar Reverend Canon Glyn Evans of Christchurch, North Shields, christened Harry Thomas Michael with proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow lifeboat crew members.
The tradition of christening the children of lifeboat crew members aboard RNLI lifeboats goes back over two hundred years and is said to bring good luck to the child. The christening font normally found in a church ceremony is replaced by the upturned ship's bell from the lifeboat, held on this occasion by volunteer Second Coxswain Ian Black.
Harry's proud Dad Michael, 35, an IT Consultant when not saving lives at sea, said: 'I'm following in my own father's footsteps as a volunteer lifeboat crewman, my mother was a fundraiser for the RNLI and I'd like to think Harry will also become a volunteer.'
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Adrian Don/RNLI
29 April 2018 RNLI Lifeboat christening - Harry Thomas Michael Brown is christened on board Tynemouth RNLI station's Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland by Revd Canon Glyn Evans in front of proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow RNLI lifeboat crewmembers. Please credit Adrian Don/RNLI
29 April 2018 RNLI Lifeboat christening - Harry Thomas Michael Brown is christened on board Tynemouth RNLI station's Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland by Revd Canon Glyn Evans in front of proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow RNLI lifeboat crewmembers. Please credit Adrian Don/RNLI
29 April 2018 RNLI Lifeboat christening - Harry Thomas Michael Brown is christened on board Tynemouth RNLI station's Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland by Revd Canon Glyn Evans in front of proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow RNLI lifeboat crewmembers. Please credit Adrian Don/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.
