RNLI naming ceremonies are a longstanding tradition, allowing stations to welcome new lifeboats into service and on Saturday 30 August 2025 Troon RNLI’s new Shannon class lifeboat RNLB Roy Barker VI was officially named during a service at the lifeboat station.
At 1pm, in front of representatives from the lifeboat station and invited guests, the naming ceremony was opened by Bob McMaster, RNLI Area Operations Manager before the lifeboat was handed into the care of the RNLI by Pamela Mottershaw, who was representing the donor Roy Barker.
The new Shannon class lifeboat was then accepted into the RNLI by Leanna Lakes, RNLI Chief Operating Officer and Director of Regions.
The funding of the new Shannon class lifeboat is thanks to the generous legacy of Mr Frederick Roy Barker, who was known as Roy, who left his entire estate to the RNLI, with the request that the income received from the fund be known as the Roy Barker Memorial Fund. Roy admired the dedication, skill and bravery of the volunteer crews and, indeed, their families who support them.
The kind legacy of Mr Alan Lionel Aspinall also contributed towards the completion of the new lifeboat. Mr Aspinall had a deep love and interest in boats and ships of all types and recognised the vital role that lifeboats provide to the seafaring communities.
The new lifeboat was then accepted on behalf of Troon lifeboat station by Lifeboat Operations Manager Jim Redmond who said, ‘As Lifeboat Operations Manager I am sure I speak for us all at the Troon lifeboat station when I say that this is a very proud day and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of legacies of Mr Frederick Roy Barker and Mr Alan Lionel Aspinall in funding this new lifeboat. It now means that we have the latest rescue equipment available to the volunteer crew, and I know that when they head out to sea, there will be peace of mind by all, and that she will help to keep them safe. Ladies and gentlemen on behalf of Troon lifeboat station I am delighted to accept this Shannon class lifeboat into our care’
A service of dedication was delivered by Rev Gillean Richmond before the lifeboat was officially named
RNLB Roy Barker VI by Pamela Mottershaw and to follow tradition, the Shannon class lifeboat was christened with whisky poured from a quaich over the bow.
The ceremony was then closed by Chairman of Troon Lifeboat Management Group Walter Barr before members of the lifeboat crew commenced a demonstration of the Shannon class lifeboats speed and manoeuvrability.
The Shannon class replaces the station’s Trent class lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat which was on service in Troon from 2004.
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.
