The Ferraris of the Seas

Tuesday 16 April 2019

On Thursday 11 April in front of RNLI Hastings Lifeboat station stood two different beasts linked by the fact that without the sale of the one the other would not have been there

The crew at RNLI Hastings Lifeboat station with Ferrari and Shannon

Northamptonshire businessman Richard Colton left two Ferraris to the RNLI when he died at the age of eighty-two in March 2015. According to his godson, Charles Denton, he was a shy, private man who loved technology. Both cars were sold as part of an H & H Classics auction later that year at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire. It was standing-room only when the spotlight settled on the two final lots in the afternoon. John Mayhead, writing on behalf of Hagerty, said, ‘The end result was a scintillating auction which achieved record prices for the cars. With nothing charged in commission or for entry fees and transport, the maximum amount possible was able to be given to the RNLI. It was something that truly provided Richard Colton with a lasting legacy that his family can be truly proud of.’

Speaking after the auction Simon Hope, MD of H & H Classics, observed: ‘This has been a dream result for us. We have worked relentlessly with the RNLI over the last few months promoting the cars all over the world to ensure we honoured the memory of Richard Colton properly.”

The 1960 red Ferrari 250 GT SWB sold for £6.6 million while the silver 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 sold for £1.93 million. This resulted in the largest donation in the history of the RNLI and it has provided Hastings lifeboat station with a brand new Shannon Class lifeboat. Peter Adams, LOM
(Lifeboat Operations Manager) at Hastings commented, ‘It is wonderful that people hold the RNLI in such high esteem.’

The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet and is capable of twenty-five knots. Her use of water jets instead of propellers makes her the most agile and manoeuvrable RNLI all-weather lifeboat, allowing her both to operate in shallow waters and to be intentionally beached as well as to be placed with great precision alongside a stricken vessel or to navigate around hazards.

It was a very poignant moment seeing the two beasts standing proudly next to each other with the volunteer crew, sporting their new all-weather crew kit sponsored by Helly Hansen. Richard Colton was known to have said that he wanted to leave a legacy - and he certainly has.

RNLI Media contacts

• Kt Bruce, Rye Harbour RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (07789) 818878 [email protected]

• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit https://www.rnli.org/.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

The crew at RNLI Hastings Lifeboat station with the Ferrari and the Shannon

The new L&RV and crew in their new Helly Hansen all-wether kit

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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.

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.

The Ferraris of the Seas

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