Portaferry RNLI remembers former crew member
Portaferry RNLI recently enjoyed an evening at the boathouse when the family of the late Billy Ellison presented a beautifully crafted bench to Portaferry lifeboat in his memory.
In 1982 Billy was awarded a Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for his part in the Jane's Rock Rescue which saw two survivors located and brought to safety in very high seas. His original acceptance speech from the presentation evening was found recently and was read aloud, many of his family and friends present remembered him reading it in Portaferry Market House over forty years previous.
The lifeboat launched twice that evening. The first shout happening just as everyone was arriving which provided good viewing for the gathering guests.
The bench was built by Paul Collins at Marlfield Joinery and Construction and now sits just outside the gates of the Portaferry Lifeboat house. Everyone is welcome to sit and enjoy it.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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