RNLI Fowey proudly name their new D Class Olive Three

another donation to equip the station with the necessary crane and davits to launch her.

The lifeboat arrived at the station last year and has been funded by The Olive Herbert Charitable Trust which was set up in 1986 by Alec Herbert in memory of his wife Olive, who died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage when she was in her early 50s. He then bequeathed the rest of the money to the Trust when he died in 1993. The Trust has four beneficiaries, one of which is the RNLI, with a focus on Cornwall which Olive and Alec loved.

As part of the naming ceremony on Saturday (22 September) Fowey RNLI are also recognising the extremely generous donation by a benefactor for the purchase and installation of the new launching crane for Olive Three.

With music from The Press Gang and speeches by Adam Luck, Chair of the Lifeboat Management Group; Lesley Court of the Olive Herbert Charitable Trust; Martin Gregory, RNLI Trustee who accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI; Chris Ogg, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Fowey; Ruth Findlay, Mayor of Fowey, who offered a vote of thanks. Reverend Philip de-Grey Warter blessed the boat and lead the lifeboat hymn, Eternal Father Strong to Save – O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.

Everyone then went out into the fierce wind and heavy rain and watched with absolute pleasure and cheering as Olive Three was named and sprinkled with champagne before being launched and swept round and round the harbour showing off her consummate skills.

Back in the boathouse to warm up and enjoy more music and chatter, pasties, saffron cake and drinks, everyone stayed; present and past volunteer crewmembers from Fowey and other stations, members of our vital fundraising teams, visitors from the Trust, members of the town and companies who continually support the RNLI in our area; all were made welcome.

The D class lifeboat has been the workhorse of the RNLI for 50 years. With a top speed of 25 knots, the D class is designed to operate close to shore and in shallow water, making it ideal for difficult rescues close to cliffs, rocks and inside caves.

The Olive Three D class replaces the previous D class Olive Two which was launched 216 times, aiding 182 people of which 16 were lives saved over her 10 years on service.

Chris Ogg, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Fowey RNLI says: ‘I think I speak for everyone connected with the station when I say we are very proud to receive this new D class lifeboat which will serve our volunteers extremely well over the next decade. We are extremely grateful to the Olive Herbert Charitable Trust for their kindness in funding our new lifeboat.’

Very importantly he also said, 'Olive Three has already made a significant difference to people’s lives with 11 launches and has already saved 8 people’s lives.'

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Cath Beard, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Fowey RNLI on 07969 693218. For urgent calls out of hours please contact the Regional Media Officer, Emma Haines 01752 854457 or 07786 668847 or the Duty RNLI Press Officer on 01202 336789.

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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