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Looe RNLI volunteers officially name their new D class inshore lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

Hundreds of people gathered outside Looe Lifeboat Station on Sunday afternoon, 18 June 2023, to watch the official naming ceremony for Looe RNLI’s new D class lifeboat Ollie Naismith II

Maxine Naismith naming the Ollie Naismith II

RNLI/Ian Foster

Maxine Naismith naming the Ollie Naismith II

The lifeboat has been funded after the Looe Lifeboat appeal raised a magnificent £111,000.

Invited guests gathered outside the Albatross boathouse, alongside Looe RNLI volunteer crew and their families to watch the occasion.

Opening the proceedings Ann Watson, outgoing chair of the Looe RNLI Lifeboat Management Group, welcomed guests and handed over to Looe RNLI’s president John Trethewy. John thanked Pelynt Male Choir, accompanied by Gabrielle Lewis, for entertaining our guests as they arrived for the ceremony. John went on to say “Looe Lifeboat Station plays an integral role in the life of our town and the support of all our townsfolk gives great encouragement to our crews and fundraising committee” and this ceremony “provides our station an opportunity to thank the community of Looe and our supporters from further afield for their ongoing support and contributions to the Looe Lifeboat Appeal”.

In an emotional speech, John Naismith talked about Ollie’s love of the sea and said that this lifeboat “is the perfect tribute and with enormous pride it does give me great pleasure to hand over this lifeboat to the RNLI”. The D Class was accepted by Adrian Carey, RNLI Head of region South West, Adrian referred to his long association with Looe Lifeboat Station and said that since the station was re-established in 1992, volunteer crews from Looe had launched over 960 times, assisting over 750 people and saved 65 lives. Adrian went on to say “that this new lifeboat will continue this lifesaving tradition and was very proud to hand the Ollie Naismith II over to Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Haines and formally into the care of Looe Lifeboat Station”.

Accepting the Ollie Naismith II into the care of Looe Lifeboat Station and crew, David Haines mentioned next year marks his 33 years of service to Looe RNLI and this will be his last naming ceremony, he spoke of his pride with the arrival of this lifeboat “marking the next chapter of lifesaving in Looe”.

The station’s chaplain Reverend Ben Morgan Lundie, accompanied by our former chaplain, Reverend Brian Mc Quillen, conducted a service of blessing. Brian said he was “delighted to be asked back to bless the Ollie Naismith II as he blessed the previous Ollie Naismith lifeboat, Brian blessed the water poured into a lifeboat helmet, and, using the same bunch of dried flowers from the first blessing 12 years ago, he blessed the Ollie Naismith II. Crossing the slipway Brian proceeded to bless our crew.

Dave Haines then invited Ollie’s mother Maxine Naismith to officially name the lifeboat. As Maxine poured champagne over the bow of the D Class she said “I name this lifeboat the Ollie Naismith II, may god bless her and all who serve on her”.

The ceremony was brought to a close with a vote of thanks delivered by Adrian Carey, who then asked our crew to launch the lifeboat for a short demonstration of its capabilities in Looe river

Helmed by Toby Bray and Tom Peat with crew member Amber Palfrey the Ollie Naismith II was launched by tractor driver Eric Candy under the guidance of head launcher David Mitchell. They were assisted by shore crew Jack Spree, Alex Richardson, John Goodsman and Goron Jones with the rest of the Looe volunteer crew watching from the side of the slipway.

After the event, tea and refreshments were served in the lifeboat station.

END.

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Maxine Naismith naming the Ollie Naismith II
Photo credit Looe RNLI / Ian Foster

· John Naismith handing the Ollie Naismith II to Adrian Carey and into the care of the RNLI
Photo credit Looe RNLI / John Baldry

· Adrian Carey handing the Ollie Naismith II to Dave Haines and into the cfare of Looe Lifeboat Station
Photo credit Looe RNLI / John Baldry

· Brian Mc Quillen blessing the Ollie Naismith II
Photo credit Looe RNLI / John Baldry

· Looe RNLI volunteer crew with the Ollie Naismith II
Photo credit Looe RNLI / John Baldry

· D-872 Ollie Naismith II
Photo credit Looe RNLI / John Baldry

Information

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website www.looelifeboats.co.uk

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789
John Naismith handing the Ollie Naismith II to Adrian Carey and into the care of the RNLI

RNLI/John Baldry

John Naismith handing the Ollie Naismith II to Adrian Carey and into the care of the RNLI
Adrian Carey handing the Ollie Naismith II to Dave Haines and into the cfare of Looe Lifeboat Station

RNLI/John Baldry

Adrian Carey handing the Ollie Naismith II to Dave Haines and into the cfare of Looe Lifeboat Station
Brian Mc Quillen blessing the Ollie Naismith II

RNLI/John Baldry

Brian Mc Quillen blessing the Ollie Naismith II
Looe RNLI volunteer crew with the Ollie Naismith II

RNLI/John Baldry

Looe RNLI volunteer crew with the Ollie Naismith II
D-872 Ollie Naismith II

RNLI/John Baldry

D-872 Ollie Naismith II

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, 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 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.