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Christmas comes early for New Quay RNLI as name of new lifeboat is revealed

Lifeboats News Release

RNLI volunteers at New Quay are thrilled to have received official notification that their new Shannon class lifeboat is due to arrive next year. The lifeboat will be named Roy Barker V, in recognition of a gift from Frederick Roy Barker.

RNLI

A photo of the first Shannon class all-weather lifeboat

Thanks to successful trials to ensure the new lifeboat and state-of-the-art search and recovery equipment would fit inside the boathouse, the RNLI have now announced the lifeboat will arrive in 2023. The RNLI is planning an appeal in the new year to fund the implementation of the new lifeboat.

Mr Frederick Roy Barker, who was known as Roy, left his entire estate to the RNLI, with the request that the income received from the fund be known as the Roy Barker Memorial Fund. Income from fund has already funded three Trent class lifeboats at Alderney in the Channel Islands, Wick in Scotland, and Howth in the Republic of Ireland together with a Tamar class lifeboat at The Mumbles in Wales.

The news has been warmly welcomed by all on station who are thrilled vigorous testing proved only minor modifications would be needed to the existing boathouse. It is the realisation of a dream for the crew who are very much looking forward to seeing the £2.5M lifeboat introduced on station in 2023.

The lifeboat is being manufactured at the RNLI’s purpose-built centre in Poole, Dorset. A launch and recovery system for the Shannon has been built at Clayton Engineering.

Modifications will be required at New Quay’s current lifeboat station to support the operation to the lifeboat and launch and recovery system.

The RNLI will embark on an implementation plan, to consider a range of vital aspects to prepare the station for the next steps. An intense period of training will be required for current RNLI crew to safely operate this new technologically advanced lifeboat.

Roger Couch, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said, “I am overwhelmed by this news, as are all at New Quay RNLI. What a most generous gift this really is. Now the hard work will really begin in preparing for her arrival and all that entails. I’m confident the arrival of our new boat will create renewed interest and awareness in the RNLI in Ceredigion and I hope we can capitalise on this to bring in new volunteers and supporters alike.”

Siwan Holloway, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager said, “Following the positive consultation in Cardigan Bay, this now demonstrates the next stages of the Shannon all-weather lifeboat deployment at New Quay and confirmation of the planned investment to be made by the RNLI. It really is a fantastic early Christmas present for all at New Quay.”

Mr Barker’s love for the sea was nurtured from holidays spent fishing with his great uncle. He was the only son of a Lincolnshire farming family and moved to Jersey in 1974, where he was able to fully enjoy his love for sailing, particularly in the Channel Islands, Solent and Mediterranean.

The yard where Roy’s boat was serviced also oversaw the annual maintenance of St Helier’s lifeboat and his lifelong interest in the RNLI and technological advancements continued to grow. Roy admired the dedication, skill and bravery of the volunteer crews and, indeed, their families who support them.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Kate Williams on 07786 550054 or [email protected] or Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations Manager in Wales and the North West on 07886 668829. Alternatively, please call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected].


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.

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