A newly built all-weather lifeboat with over 10,000 names on its hull which is due to arrive at the RNLI’s Clifden station in Connemara on Saturday has already recorded its first rescue mission.
The Shannon-class lifeboat named St Christopher escorted a small fishing vessel into Newlyn in Cornwall earlier this week while on its way from the south English coast to Ireland.
Clifden RNLI operations manager John Brittain said that the lifeboat was en route to Newlyn in Cornwall as one of its stopovers on the way to Clifden when it received the call from Falmouth Coastguard.
It was asked to provide an escort to a small fishing vessel with two people on board.
Speaking to Wavelengths, Mr Brittain described how a very special welcome has been planned for it on Saturday, as it carries the names of over 10,000 people on its hull.
These were nominated by members of the public through a special fundraising initiative, known as “Launch a Memory”, which was run by the search and rescue charity back in 2020.
The RNLI says people will have an opportunity to “get up close” to the lifeboat on Sunday morning at low tide when the vessel crew will be beached at the back of the lifeboat station on Clifden beach from 9.30 am till about 12.30 pm.
“We have been working towards this day for a long time. It is an honour for us to carry these 10,000 names onboard our new lifeboat the St Christopher,” Mr Brittain said.
“ Every time we launch, they will accompany the lifeboat crew on its lifesaving mission,” he said.
“ I know there are many incredibly moving stories behind each name and we hope to do them all proud,” he said.
He advises members of the public to park in Clifden and walk down to the beach or take one of two shuttle buses which will be running from the town centre to the lifeboat station.
Information on the campaign including a search tool to find where a particular name is placed on the lifeboat, is available on the RNLI website here
You can hear John Brittain on Wavelengths below
