Harwich RNLI rededicates Albert Brown and honours long serving volunteers

The ceremony came a day after the 30th anniversary of Albert Brown entering service in 1996. Rev’d Kirsty Emerson led a blessing of the lifeboat and prayers, and a minute’s silence was held for the life lost at Hastings recently and in memory of former crew who have served at Harwich Lifeboat Station.

The first of its class

Albert Brown was the first Severn class lifeboat to enter operational service with the RNLI. Its arrival at Harwich was overseen by the then Lifeboat Operations Manager, Captain Rod Shaw MBE, and carried on a long run of firsts for the station; in 1890 Harwich was also home to the RNLI’s first steam-powered lifeboat.

The lifeboat was funded through a generous bequest from Victoria Maisie Brown in memory of her husband, Albert Brown, whose name it carries. It was named by Terry Waite, now Sir Terry Waite, and replaced the Waveney class lifeboats that had served Harwich since 1967, the last of which was 44-020 John Fison.

At 17 metres long and 42 tonnes, Albert Brown is a self-righting all-weather lifeboat. It has had three full-time coxswains in its 30 years: Peter ‘Nobby’ Dawson, Paul Smith, Neal Sanquest and the current coxswain, Di Bush, who was the RNLI’s first female mechanic and lifeboat coxswain.

The lifeboat was built with a 25-year service life in mind. In 2023 it went through a major refurbishment, which saw it stripped down and repainted, its windows refitted and new electronic systems installed. Since entering service it has launched 426 times, assisted 675 people and saved 18 lives, spending almost 1,200 hours at sea.

Simon Rudd, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Harwich RNLI, said: "These figures represent far more than statistics. They reflect the dedication, professionalism and courage of generations of volunteer crew members who have answered the call, often in the most challenging conditions, to protect and save lives at sea."

Simon added: "Today we celebrate not only a lifeboat, but also the generosity of the Brown family, whose legacy continues to save lives every year, and the commitment of everyone who has served aboard it over the past three decades. Being the oldest lifeboat in the fleet says a lot about how well it was designed and built, and about the care of the people who maintain it."

Long service medals

Nigel Spencer also presented RNLI long service medals to three Harwich volunteers. Daz Priestnall received his medal for 20 years of service, while Adrian Jenner and Jon Bliss were each recognised for 10 years.

Between them the three have given 40 years of volunteering to the station, giving up their time to train, respond to pagers day and night, and help keep Harwich’s lifeboats ready to launch.

No celebration of long service at Harwich would be complete without a nod to shop manager Ann Brand, who has now volunteered with the RNLI at Harwich for an outstanding 51 years. Ann spent many years fundraising with the Ladies Guild and has run the station’s lifeboat shop for more than 20 years.

Her connection to the charity goes back to 1972, when she met her husband Ken. Ken served as a volunteer crew member on the Harwich lifeboats for more than 33 years, 10 of them as assistant mechanic, and his passion for the RNLI soon became hers. Having lived through the highs and lows, and the worry of knowing a loved one was out in a storm to help a stranger, Ann was driven to do all she could from the shore.

Ann received her 40 year long service medal in 2022 and has twice represented the RNLI at Buckingham Palace Garden Parties. She can rightly say the RNLI is ‘in her blood’.

The station thanks the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant and Rev’d Kirsty Emerson for taking part, along with everyone who came along to mark the occasion.

Notes to Editor

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is the charity that saves lives at sea.

Harwich Lifeboat Station was founded in 1829 and is based on The Quay, Harwich. The station operates two lifeboats: the all-weather Severn class ALB Albert Brown and the B class ILB Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid.