Naming ceremony for Penarth RNLI's newest lifeboat
Crowds of guests, supporters, families and friends gathered today, 2 June 2018 to witness the naming and dedication of Penarth's new D class lifeboat.
Saturday 2nd June 2018
Official naming ceremony of Penarth’s new lifeboat
At a special naming ceremony and service of dedication held today (Saturday 2nd June 2018), Penarth RNLI officially named its new D class lifeboat, Spirit of Penarth II.
The naming ceremony came less than 24 hours after the new lifeboat’s first shout, it was launched just before 7pm on 1st June to people in difficulty on the river Rhymney in Cardiff. Details are available here:-https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2018/june/01/very-first-shout-for-penarth-rnlis-newest-lifeboat
At the mid morning event Laurie Pavelin, Penarth lifeboat station chairman, welcomed guests and opened the proceedings, with Bob Haswell, Penarth Station Treasurer, talking about the success of the fundraising appeal.
Students from Albert Road, Evenlode, Fairfield primary schools handed the lifeboat in to the care of the RNLI represented by Mark Kerr, RNLI Council Member.
Mr Kerr handed the lifeboat to Lifeboat Operations Manager Jason Dunlop, representing Penarth RNLI ahead of Spirit of Penarth II being blessed in a service of dedication led by Reverend Mark Jones, Lifeboat Station Chaplain.
Mrs ‘Buddy’ Thompson MBE, President of Penarth fundraising branch, named the lifeboat Spirit of Penarth II. Master of ceremonies for the day was Dave Horgan.
A crowd of well wishers turned up to see the lifeboat officially named with a bottle of champagne poured over the side of the boat before it launched at the end of the ceremony.
On accepting the lifeboat, Jason said: “As the lifeboat Operations Manager its my role to ensure that safety of our crew when they go to sea at night or day in all weathers. Therefore having the very best boats and equipment is key to their safety and helping our crew to save lives at sea. This brand new lifeboat which is capable of 25 knots with SIMS navigation system onboard provides the perfect lifeboat for the challenging tidal conditions of the Bristol Channel. I would like to thank the community for giving the lifeboat crew the tools they need to save lives. This is the true spirit of Penarth.”
The D class Spirit of Penarth II replaces the Connie Dains which served the station for 10 years.
Notes to editors
Originally introduced in 1963, the D class has evolved into a highly capable modern lifeboat. It is the workhorse of the RNLI’s fleet and is ideal for working close inshore, near rocks or in shallow water in moderate conditions. It can be righted by the crew if it capsizes and is also part of the RNLI flood rescue team’s fleet of boats.
She comes into her own for searches and rescues in the surf, shallow water and confined locations - often close to cliffs, among rocks and even inside caves.
For further details please contact Andy Berry, Penarth RNLI station press officer, 07951 051128
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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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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