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Newhaven RNLI ‘Knot on Call’ rehomed as poetic town gateway

Lifeboats News Release

Making a vibrant welcome into Newhaven from the Lewes Road, Newhaven Town Council have created a bespoke Valley Ponds setting for ‘Knot on Call’, the result of an Art Wave installation project by Newhaven RNLI with artist Pete Hellicar.

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Pete Hellicar, Pinky McLean-Knight and Roger Cohen MBE
Mayor of Newhaven, Councillor Pinky McLean-Knight met with Pete Hellicar and Newhaven Lifeboat Operations Manager Roger Cohen MBE at Valley Ponds. They chatted over sea-inspired poetry, the RNLI’s bold and reassuring colour palette and making a warm welcome into Newhaven.

Pinky McLean-Knight, says: ‘Knot on Call captures a great deal of what is Newhaven energy. Our town’s vibrant and hard-working spirit, a creative community, forever connected to the sea.’

The installation explores the emotional nature of the sea. Hand-painted into the hull of the boat, poetic text appears to be floating in rippling water. This 'Anamorphic' effect was achieved by hand-tracing into projected text.

Pete Hellicar, says: ‘The sea provides both perspective and an eternal rhythm. It is at the primal heart of us all. Both chaotic and calm, balanced yet treacherous.’

To create the poems, Hellicar used the cut-up technique, popularized by writer William S. Burroughs.

‘We printed some 750 words collected from seafaring-related texts and cut these into strips. Mixed and placed on a large table, the exercise of randomly selecting sentences and pairing them with others threw up surprising combinations.’

‘Sometimes dark, other times light and full of whimsy. The word and line selection happened over several weeks as friends and collaborators visited the studio and played with the process.’

Pinky McLean-Knight, says: ‘We hope residents and visitors will enjoy this thoughtful sea and lifeboat heritage themed invitation and welcome into our town.’

Ends

Notes for the Editor
First established in 1803, Newhaven Lifeboat station has been RNLI operated since 1854. The Newhaven volunteer crew have operated their current all-weather lifeboat, the Severn class ‘David and Elizabeth Acland’ for 24 years. Newhaven RNLI also operates a D class inshore lifeboat that began its two-year trial of service in August 2024.

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RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Newhaven RNLI's 'Knot on Call' a vibrant welcome into the town at Valley Ponds

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Poetic text appears to be floating in rippling water

RNLI/Rosalind Ashton

Mayor of Newhaven, Councillor Pinky McLean-Knight (centre) met with Pete Hellicar (left) and Newhaven Lifeboat Operations Manager Roger Cohen MBE (right) at Valley Ponds

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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