A new Shannon-class lifeboat has been officially named Bobby Cameron at Kilkeel RNLI in County Down in memory of the late brother of its principal donor, Margaret Cameron.
The naming ceremony and service of dedication took place at Kilkeel Lifeboat Station on Saturday afternoon (22 August), two months after the new all-weather lifeboat entered service.
Bubbly Tribute – Kilkeel RNLI crew member Andrew Young pours champagne over the new Shannon-class lifeboat Bobby Cameron during Saturday's naming ceremony. Photo: RNLI/Nick Leach
Margaret Cameron largely funded the lifeboat and chose to name it after her brother Bobby, who died two years ago aged 90.
Tribute To Bobby Cameron
Margaret and Bobby Cameron grew up with their two older brothers on a farm at Gracehill in Ballymena during the Second World War.
Bobby pursued a career in joinery and construction, becoming a City & Guilds craftsman before holding a teaching post at the College of Technology in Belfast. He later worked in the Department of Economic Development, organising training for apprentices and unskilled workers.
Neither Bobby nor Margaret had a direct connection with the RNLI, but the brother and sister shared an admiration for the charity's lifesaving work.
At the ceremony, Margaret formally handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI through the charity's chief executive, Peter Sparkes. Kilkeel Lifeboat Operations Manager John Fisher then accepted it on behalf of the station.
The newly named Bobby Cameron leaves Kilkeel harbour as well-wishers watch following the Shannon-class lifeboat's naming ceremony. Photo: RNLI/Nick Leach
40 Years Of Kilkeel RNLI
Fisher said the ceremony coincided with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the RNLI at Kilkeel by local businessman Robert Grimason.
During those four decades, Kilkeel's volunteers have answered 598 calls, aided more than 400 people and saved 43 lives.
“Today is another milestone in our history,” Fisher said. “I cannot thank the Cameron family enough for making this possible.”
The Rev Rodney Cameron, nephew of Margaret and Bobby, led the Service of Dedication before Margaret formally named the lifeboat.
As the boat was named, Kilkeel crew members poured champagne over its side before it was launched in front of the assembled crowd.
“Today is the fulfilment of all my dreams,” Margaret said. “I am so glad that I was able to do this for Bobby.”
Family Tribute – Margaret Cameron speaks at the naming ceremony for Bobby Cameron, with her nephew Adrian Cameron behind her and the new Kilkeel RNLI lifeboat alongside. Photo: RNLI/Nick Leach
She added that the lifeboat was a tribute to Bobby's memory “as a brother and an uncle”.
In a further personal tribute, Margaret presented Fisher with Bobby's old Sunday School Bible and asked that it be kept aboard the lifeboat.
Waterjet-Powered Shannon Class
The Shannon is the RNLI's latest class of all-weather lifeboat and is the charity's first modern all-weather design to use waterjets rather than conventional propellers, giving it increased agility and manoeuvrability.
The Bobby Cameron was also partly funded through bequests from lifelong RNLI supporters Edna Joyce Burgess and Hazel Mills.
As a legacy lifeboat, the vessel also carries the names of supporters incorporated within the letters and numbers making up its identifying number.
