‘Eric’s Legend’ lives on at the RNLI
Philanthropist and avid RNLI supporter Eric Cass’s life has been celebrated in memorial by his wife Jean as she funds a second RNLI lifeboat in his name.
The Shannon-class lifeboat - Eric’s Legend - has now been completed and is currently residing at RNLI headquarters in Poole ahead of it joining the RNLI’s fleet of relief lifeboats.
Eric and Jean have been committed and generous supporters of the RNLI for decades, and had previously funded the Mersey-class lifeboat, Pride and Spirit, at Dungeness which was in operation from 1992 – 2014. Their incredible contribution to lifesaving at the RNLI didn’t stop there as they funded an extension to the lifeboat station at Dungeness in 1994.
After a career in the production of pagers, and leaving a magnificent legacy in the arts alongside his wife, Eric sadly passed away in 2018. Jean made the decision then to support the RNLI once more by providing funds for a second lifeboat.
On Friday 25 June, Jean made the trip to RNLI headquarters in Poole to see the new Shannon-class lifeboat, Eric’s Legend.
In a happy stroke of luck, whilst visiting, Jean was greeted by the original lifeboat that she and late husband, Eric had initially funded back in 1992 - the Pride and Spirit. Now stripped of her name and numbers, she was found to be waiting in Poole ready for overseas adventures with the lifeboat service in Uruguay.
Speaking about her experience, Jean said: ‘It was a truly fantastic day on Friday. I put Eric in charge of the weather and he came up trumps, of course… and then to find Pride and Spirit in the boat yard was just the icing on the cake!’
The volunteer crew at Dungeness RNLI were very pleased to hear from Jean via video message after her visit.
Stuart Adams, Coxswain of RNLI Dungeness lifeboat, says: ‘Both Jean and Eric Cass have been fantastic, loyal supporters of the station, and the RNLI as a whole for so many years. We consider them part of the family here at station. We are so pleased that Jean got to see Pride and Spirit before she heads to Uruguay to continue her lifesaving work.’
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