Naming ceremony and dedication of Blyth RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat
On Saturday 21 August 2021 Blyth RNLI held their lifeboat naming ceremony and the weather failed to dampen the spirits of those that attended.
The audience heard from Peter Hunt who spoke about the life of Patricia Southall, known by her friends as Pat.She was a keen supporter of the RNLI and her legacy means that Blyth RNLI were equipped with their Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat numbered B-923 and named Patricia Southall.
As proceedings continued and the Atlantic 85 was accepted on behalf of the RNLI by RNLI trustee Fiona Fell who thanked the friends of Patricia Southall for making the journey up from the West Midlands.
Barry Pearson, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Blyth RNLI said,'It was a privilege and honour for me to welcome everyone to Blyth Lifeboat Station on this special day.My thanks go especially to Pat's friends who made the long journey north to attend today's ceremony. With the RNLI being a charity, legacies such as Patricia Southall's are vital to us being provided with world class lifeboats and equipment to enable us to continue to save lives at sea.We are very grateful for her kind generosity.'
Finally, to conclude the proceedings, the volunteer crew showed the audience Patricia Southall Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat out on the River Blyth and demonstrated its capabilities.
From Blyth RNLI 'Thank You' to everyone for their support in making this memorable day such a success.
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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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.