Tynemouth lifeboat christening for Finley
When Tynemouth RNLI volunteer crewman Michael Brown and his wife Laura's second child, Finley was born, like his older brother Harry, his Christening was only ever going to take place aboard the stationary Tynemouth RNLI's Severn class all-weather lifeboat ‘Osier’.
In a delightful afternoon ceremony held in beautiful weather on Sunday (10 July) at Tynemouth RNLI station, local vicar Reverend Malcolm Hal of Christchurch, North Shields, christened Finley Thomas Michael with proud parents Laura and Michael, the Godparents, family and friends, and Michael's fellow lifeboat crew members.
The tradition of christening the children of lifeboat crew members at lifeboat stations goes back over two hundred years and is said to bring good luck to the child. The christening font normally found in a church ceremony is replaced by the upturned ship's bell from the lifeboat, held on this occasion by volunteer Second Coxswain David Robinson.
Michael and Laura also had their first son, Harry christened at the RNLI back in April 2018.
Finley’s proud Dad Michael, an IT Consultant when not saving lives at sea, said: 'I'm following in my own grandfather’s footsteps as a volunteer lifeboat crewman, my mother was a fundraiser for the RNLI and I'd like to think Finley, as well as Harry will also become a volunteer.'
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone James Waters, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Deputy Press Officer on 07791886324 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office 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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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