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Looe RNLI volunteers join the blessing of the sea service at Portwrinkle harbour

Lifeboats News Release

Looe RNLI’s D Class lifeboat Ollie Naismith II and volunteer crew were blessed at Portwrinkle harbour during the port’s annual blessing of the sea service

Reverend Joanna Northey with Looe RNLI volunteer crew Toby Bray, David Jackman and Will Jaycock

RNLI/Ian Foster

Reverend Joanna Northey with Looe RNLI volunteer crew Toby Bray, David Jackman and Will Jaycock

Each year the congregation of St Mary’s Church, Sheviock hold a ‘blessing of the sea’ service at Portwrinkle harbour. With 2024 being the RNLI’s 200th birthday, volunteers at RNLI Looe Lifeboat Station were invited to join their service which celebrates all aspects of the sea and those who venture out to sea, either in a professional capacity or for leisure.

Yesterday afternoon, Sunday 14 July 2024, at Portwrinkle harbour, the assembled congregation were delighted to watch the arrival of the charity’s D Class Ollie Naismith II helmed by Toby Bray, with crew members David Jackman and Will Jaycock. Toby, David, and Will along with our Press Officer Ian Foster and shore crew Carol Foster then joined the outdoor service. After the congregation sang along to, with some dancing on the beach, to the song “my lighthouse”, Ian thanked the congregation for inviting our crew and celebrating the RNLI’s 200th birthday on the harbourside, he explained some of the history behind Looe Lifeboat Station, which was first opened in 1866 and closed in 1930, then to be re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992. To a round of applause, he mentioned David and Toby have been volunteer crew at Looe for over 30 years, and Will, who is one of our next generation of volunteers.

Everyone there, then made their way down to the waters edge, some paddling, as the Reverend Joanna Northey blessed the D Class inshore lifeboat and our crew.

As the service ended, our crew joined everyone for tea and cakes on the beach.

As Toby, David and Will prepared the inshore lifeboat to leave Portwrinkle, they were asked by Sue to complete their blessing of the sea service, by taking a simple wooden cross out into the bay. Just outside the harbour our crew paused, allowing David Jackman to place the cross on the water.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Photos:

· Reverend Joanna Northey with Looe RNLI volunteer crew Toby Bray, David Jackman and Will Jaycock
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Reverend Joanna Northey blessing the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II with Sue holding the wooden cross
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· David Jackman placing the wooden cross in the sea at Portwrinkle bay
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

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 https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

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

· In 2024, the RNLI will be celebrating 200 years - and counting, commemorating this remarkable past, celebrating our lifesaving achievements today, and inspiring a future where we can save every one. More information on RNLI 200 can be found at https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/2024

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 Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789
Reverend Joanna Northey blessing the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II with Sue holding the wooden cross

RNLI/Ian Foster

Reverend Joanna Northey blessing the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II with Sue holding the wooden cross
David Jackman placing the wooden cross in the sea at Portwrinkle bay

RNLI/Ian Foster

David Jackman placing the wooden cross in the sea at Portwrinkle bay

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.

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