Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat. Eight lives saved.
Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crew members at the Ferry Road lifeboat station have said farewell to their Trent class all weather lifeboat 'Betty Huntbatch' recently after 22 years service of helping people in trouble at sea.
Meanwhile an all weather lifeboat from the RNLI reserve fleet is on standby at the Ferry Road lifeboat station until training is complete on the new Shannon class lifeboat later this month.
Lifeboat operations manager Steve Pounder said 'It was sad to see Betty sail away. Many of the crew have many memories of being aboard the boat such as on shouts where they have played there part in saving lives at sea or a tricky tow job in stormy weather. But its nice to know Betty will still be on call at the Isle of Man for a few more years. She will be missed but we have to move on and our new Shannon class lifeboat 'John Sharp' will soon takeover and be on call 24-7 with our volunteer crew members.
Hartlepool RNLI chairman Malcolm Cook said 'Whilst at Hartlepool 'Betty Huntbatch' has been accredited with saving eight lives, the lifeboat launched 392 times and aided 604 people and spent a total of 747 hours at sea on service which is testament to the dedication and professionalism from our volunteer crew members.
On behalf of everyone at Hartlepool RNLI I would like to thank the Huntbatch family for presenting us with the lifeboat and its fantastic to know she will play a part in saving lives at sea at the Isle of Man in the future.
In the week that the lifeboat left Hartlepool the daughter of Joyce Huntbatch who named the boat back in 2005 paid a visit to the Ferry Road lifeboat station from the Midlands to thank the crew for looking after the all weather lifeboat. 'Val Pittaway said it was an incredibly proud day for mum and all of us who were present at the naming ceremony all those years ago. It's been lovely meeting the crew and learning about the new lifeboat boat. It's a memory I will have for evermore.'
Notes to editors
- In 2023 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and RoI launched 9,192 times saving 355 lives, RNLI Lifeguards saved a further 151 lives.
- It cost £1,450 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
- 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
- In 2023 it cost the RNLI £191.2M to run it’s charitable lifesaving service, 6 in 10 of the lifeboat launches were funded be generous supporters leaving the RNLI a gift in their will.
RNLI Media Contacts
Hartlepool RNLI volunteer press officer Tom Collins email: [email protected]
Clare Hopps (RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North East and East): [email protected] Tel:07824 518641
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 142,700 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.
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, X, TikTok 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.