New Amble lifeboat named Elizabeth and Leonard
7th June 2017
The new 13m Shannon-class lifeboat Elizabeth and Leonard, which arrived at Northumberland station of Amble in November 2016, was formally named and dedicated at a ceremony on Saturday, 27 May, 2017, reports Nicholas Leach.
Above: Dianne Loveridge christens Elizabeth and Leonard.
The new lifeboat was funded by Mrs Elizabeth Foley Brumfield from Hull, who left a generous legacy to the RNLI and requested that it be used towards the purchase of an all-weather lifeboat in memory of her and her late husband, Leonard. Elizabeth was a lifelong supporter of the RNLI.
In addition, two years of hard fund-raising work provided more than £200,000 from the local and wider community towards the cost of the new boat. The station’s magnificent fund-raising team was led by Katrina Cassidy and RNLI community fundraising manager Gill King. After a multitude of events, from coffee mornings and sponsored runs to golf days and a fashion show, the impressive target was reached in June 2016, by when the new lifeboat was under construction.
The new Amble Shannon-class lifeboat Elizabeth and Leonard.
A proud Amble lifeboat crew after the official naming ceremony.
A good crowd of local supporters and well-wishers gathered on the quayside for the ceremony. Dianne Loveridge, god-daughter and donor representative, formally handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI and said the donor, Elizabeth, would have loved to have attended the event. Robbie Warrington, RNLI head of lifesaving support, accepted the lifeboat and thanked the generosity of the donor and community for their contributions, and then handed the boat into the care of Lifeboat Operations Manager John Wingfield. The service of dedication was led by the Rev Gillian Harwood.
The lifeboat came bow onto the quay at the end of the formalities so that Diane could pour champagne over the bow to christen the new boat. The lifeboat then put out for a short demonstration of her capabilities in the harbour, with coxswain David Bell at the helm.
Dr Paul Creighton, former medical adviser and chairman of the Amble lifeboat station management group, closed the proceedings by giving special thanks to all those who helped to make the event possible.
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