The Lewisco Company visit their boat at Whitstable RNLI
It was back in 2006 that a Miss Constance Lewis of London left in her will a very generous bequest which funded the current Whitstable RNLI B-Class lifeboat
Lewisco which was placed on service in 2014 on the retirement of the previous boat.
Miss Lewis and members of her family had enjoyed many holidays in Whitstable and it was her wish that she could fund a new lifeboat for the town on her passing.
Many people over the years have asked how the lifeboat aquired its name. Connie always reffered to her family as the Lewis Company or Lewisco hence the name bestowed on the lifeboat.
At the lifeboat's naming ceremony in 2014 the family were represented during the official proceedings by her newphew Mr Colin Wright. Colin has also now passed away and it was his families wish to continue their association with Whitstable RNLI and they have made a further generous donation in memory of Colin.
On Sunday Colin's son Steve with his mother Jill and his wife Michelle, their son's Toby, Jay and Finn, sister Georgina and her husband Jamie accompanied by their son's Sam and Jack paid a visit to Whitstable to see Aunt Connies lifeboat. For many of them it was the first time they had seen the lifeboat let alone see it in action.
As there was a planned exercise on Sunday morning they were able to have a look around the station with helm Dave Parry who explained the various proceedures for launching and crewing the lifeboat.
At around 10.00am Lewisco was launched watched by the assembeld representatives of 'Lewisco' company and they no doubt felt very proud to see her head off seawards and set about the exercise.
It had been arranged with Richard (former Whitstable lifeboat helm) and Sue Judge of Whitstable Vintage Lifeboat Trips that they would take a trip 1948 built Liverpool Class Lifeboat 'The Cheiftain' and watch Lewisco return to staion about an hour or so later .
After a break for coffee and a chat with Lifeboat Operations Manager Kellie Grayit was time to walk around to the East Quay and board The Chieftain and meet up with Lewisco.
However as The Chieftain headed west from the harbour there was a sad moment when the family set adrift the internment pillow containing ashes of Colin Wright.
After the pause in the trip when no doubt thoughts were with Colin and also perhaps Connie and the happy holidays in the town, Coxswain Richard Judge radioed Lewisco and she approached at speed to give the family a perfect display which included a 'man overboard' display(using a dummy) before some further curcuits around 'The Cheiftain' after which, the vintage lifeboat followed Lewisco back to station and all could watch the recovery operation from seawards.
Station Press Officer Chris Davey said “We know at Whitstable RNLI how pround the family are of their association with our station and it was nice to meet them and put names to faces. Over the years we have kept them up to date with news about Lewisco and her adventures and we look forward to seeing them back here again perhaps, with other members of 'The Company”.
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Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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