Lord Zetland visits Redcar RNLI

The visitors saw how the lifeboats are launched and recovered, and met crew, station officials and members of the Lifeboat Ladies’ Guild during a guided tour of the lifeboat station.

Dave Cocks, Chairman of Redcar RNLI said: ‘We’ve enjoyed a deep bond between the Dundas family and Redcar’s lifeboats since 1802 when Lawrence Dundas, the 1st Earl of Zetland provided the site, a boathouse, and crucial funding for the town's first, unnamed lifeboat, built by Henry Greathead. The townsfolk later christened the lifeboat Zetland as a tribute to the Earl’s generosity.’

Dave continued: ‘Since those early days it’s been a tradition that the Marquess of Zetland holds the title of Honorary President of the Redcar lifeboat station. We were delighted earlier this year when Robin accepted our invitation to continue that tradition when he became the 5th Marquess of Zetland.’

Lord Zetland wrote to the lifeboat station after his visit and said: 'Yesterday was so special for us. None of us had appreciated quite how much time is given by quite how many people to provide your most valuable service.'

After their visit the guests walked along to the Zetland Lifeboat Museum to see the lifeboat named after Robin Dundas’ ancestor Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Zetland.

Notes to Editors

Redcar lifeboat station has been operating since 1802

Redcar currently operates a B-class lifeboat named Leicester Challenge III, paid for by the people of Leicester, and an IB1-class lifeboat named Eileen May Loach-Thomas, paid from the legacy of the late Mr Nick Thomas of Shropshire

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