Official naming ceremony of Troon’s new inshore lifeboat

The cost of Troon’s new D Class inshore lifeboat has been funded by the legacy of Miss Sheena Farmer.

Miss Farmer had been a strong supporter of charities during her lifetime and was particularly fond of both the Erskine Hospital and the RNLI. She was never one for the limelight or drawing attention to herself.

As an unmarried lady working for Strathclyde Regional Council until her retirement Miss Farmer was a very private woman but had varied interests in rural affairs, reading, arts & crafts and the Scottish Ballet.

Invited guests joined the volunteer crew, fundraisers, shop volunteers and members of the Lifeboat Management Group at the ceremony which was led by John Steel, Chairman of the Troon Lifeboat Management Group who welcomed the guests and opened proceedings. The inshore lifeboat was handed over to the care of RNLI by Isabel Ewing, a representative of the donor, and was accepted into the RNLI by Roger Lockwood, Chair of the RNLI Scottish Council.

David Shaw, Lifeboat Operation Manager at Troon then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the crew before the Rev David Prentice-Hyers led the Service of Dedication.

Following the official naming of the lifeboat by Isabel Ewing the ceremony was brought to a close by John Steel.

The inshore lifeboat then launched and gave a short demonstration of the boats capabilities to the assembled guests

Following the ceremony Coxswain Joe Millar said ‘The naming ceremony and service of dedication is a very special occasion for our lifeboat station and we are grateful to the legacy of Miss Sheena Farmer. Since the lifeboat went on service on the 26 April it has already been launched on 3 occasions.’

Lifeboat Operations Manager David Shaw added ‘With a top speed of 25 knots, the D Class is highly manoeuvrable inshore lifeboat and can access areas inaccessible to our Trent class all-weather lifeboat. She comes into her own for rescues in shallow water and amongst rocks.’

RNLI Media Contacts: Andrew Limond, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Troon, 01292 314414 [email protected]

Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

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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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