Farewell to RNLI lifeboat Ruby Clery

The vessel came to Peel’s station in 1992 and remained there until the end of 2019. Over nearly three decades the lifeboat launched on service more than 200 times and was credited with saving 62 lives. As Peel’s crew prepared for their new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Ruby Clery moved temporarily to Ramsey RNLI for 3 years, and then briefly to Douglas RNLI as a relief lifeboat.

Ruby Clery held a special place in the hearts of Peel’s lifeboat community, proud that it carried the name of the great, great granddaughter of Sir William Hillary, who founded the RNLI more than 200 years ago. To add to its significance for Peel’s crew, Ruby Clery was christened by Karin Bache Nordli, who was the daughter of the baby who had been one of the 23 people rescued by Peel’s John Monk lifeboat in 1889.

Ruby Clery’s departure from the Isle of Man came on Sunday 7 December. In order to mark this proud history, two crew members from Peel and two from Douglas were part of this passage back to Fleetwood. Crewed by volunteers Jon Corlett and Mike Faragher, both Peel lifeboat coxswains, and from Douglas station, coxswain Emily Heaton and mechanic James Betteridge.

Serving as passage coxswain Jon Corlett commented: ‘We sounded the horn twice in farewell when we left Douglas Harbour. It was a very early start as timing was tight, our arrival in Fleetwood needed to coincide with the tide and the opening of the lock into the marina, to allow us to catch a flight from Liverpool back to the Isle of Man the same day.’

Jon summed up the mood, saying it had been a ‘bittersweet’ passage, as memories of Ruby Clery’s services were being exchanged. Ruby Clery will be fondly remembered by the community, and those who trained and served on her, for many years of lifesaving duty. As the RNLI moves into its third century, our volunteers and supporters are now looking forward to a future with new challenges and updated resources.

Key facts about the RNLI

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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