The Atlantic 85 lifeboat Berylium and D-class lifeboat Cameronian were formally named during a ceremony and service of dedication at Newcastle Lifeboat Station on Saturday (12 September).
The two boats have already been operational at the station, with Berylium going on service last December and Cameronian last October.
Donors Behind Newcastle's New Lifeboats
The Atlantic 85 has been funded by Beryl Williamson and her late husband Gilbert, who had intended to fund a lifeboat following their deaths.
After Gilbert died, Beryl decided instead to fund two lifeboats during her lifetime. She chose the name Berylium in the hope that the Atlantic 85 would be a "treasured diamond in the fleet" and a major asset to RNLI volunteers saving lives at sea.
New Era: Newcastle RNLI’s volunteer team gathers with the Atlantic 85 Berylium and D-class Cameronian, the two new lifeboats providing the County Down station with a full inshore rescue capability. Photo: Nicholas Leach
The Williamson family's association with the sea includes the loss of seven relatives in the Eyemouth Fishing Disaster of 1881. The couple also helped open the first RNLI charity shop, the Lucky Dip, in Edinburgh in 1967.
The D-class Cameronian was funded by Margaret Cameron, who also supported the funding of Kilkeel RNLI's Shannon-class lifeboat Bobby Cameron.
Cameron, who attended Saturday's ceremony, grew up with three brothers on a farm at Gracehill in County Antrim during the Second World War. After retiring, she took a journalism course and worked as a freelance writer, while also volunteering at the Marie Curie Centre in Belfast and the Share Centre in Lisnaskea.
She was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2018.
Warm Welcome: Newcastle RNLI volunteers applaud donor Margaret Cameron as she arrives at the station for the naming and dedication ceremony for the new inshore lifeboats Berylium and Cameronian. Photo: Nicholas Leach
'New Era of Lifesaving'
Newcastle RNLI Launch Authority Daniel Curran welcomed guests to the ceremony. A recording from Beryl Williamson was played in her absence as she formally handed Beryllium into the care of the RNLI. Cameron then handed Cameronian to the charity.
RNLI Trustee Paddy McLaughlin accepted both boats before handing them into the care of Newcastle Lifeboat Station.
Curran said the arrival of the two craft had heralded a new era for the volunteer station.
"Over recent months, I have watched as intensive training has been undertaken by our volunteers to get to grips with a new class of lifeboat and to bring a full inshore capability to Newcastle, matching the risk and rescue activity at our coast as well as the changing trends in water use."
He said the station's farewell to its Mersey class lifeboat had been emotional, but the arrival of two modern inshore boats would equip Newcastle for future search and rescue demands.
Into Their Care: RNLI Trustee Paddy McLaughlin with Newcastle RNLI Launch Authority Daniel Curran, who accepted the station’s two new inshore lifeboats following their formal handover. Photo: Nicholas Leach
"We know thanks to the generosity of the donors and the commitment and dedication of our volunteers, that both Berylium and Cameronian will ensure we continue to provide the most effective lifesaving service now and long into the future."
Lifeboats Dedicated at Newcastle
Canon Myrtle Morrison, Fr Jim Crudden, Rev Dr Richard Wright and Rev Adrian Moffett led the service of dedication, during which the lifeboats were officially named.
Family, friends and supporters of the station watched as champagne was poured over the side of each boat to complete the ceremony.
The Atlantic 85 is among the RNLI's fastest lifeboats, capable of 35 knots from its twin 115hp four-stroke engines.
Designed for operations in shallow water while also capable of handling challenging open-sea conditions, it is particularly suited to rescues close to shore, cliffs and rocks.
The smaller D class has a top speed of 25 knots and an endurance of three hours at that speed. The inflatable craft is designed for close-to-shore operations in shallow or confined waters, including around cliffs, rocks and caves, and can operate effectively in surf conditions.
