Port Erin officially receives new lifeboat in RNLI naming ceremony on Isle of Man
Volunteers gathered at the station in the south of the island to witness the renaming of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat to the B-951 Neil Crowe, a lifelong supporter of the charity.
Representatives of the RNLI say donations from the family of Neil Crowe "funded our next chapter of saving lives" in Port Erin, alongside the Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust.
Additional crews from Peel and Port St Mary joined the ceremony, arriving on their respective lifeboats.
Also in the audience were ex-Chief Minister Sir Miles Walker CBE, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly MLC, Juan Watterson MHK, RNLI Governor Mark Wrigley and Captain of the Parish of Rushen, Paul Costain.
Port Erin RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Lewis Ridgway, opened proceedings by welcoming guests and introducing the naming ceremony as a chance for the donors to welcome the lifeboat into service.
Lewis said: "This ceremony gave us a heartfelt opportunity to thank the Gough Ritchie Charitable Trust and the family of Neil Crowe, whose generous donation has funded our next chapter of saving lives here at Port Erin Lifeboat Station.
"We know this new lifeboat will save many lives under the command of our volunteer crew, keeping the community and visitors to our Manx waters safe in the years to come."
Patrick Crowe then delivered a moving tribute to his late father, Neil Crowe, who the new lifeboat is named after, saying that he was never happier than when he was on the water with his wife Carol, which led him to be a lifelong supporter of the RNLI.
RNLI Trustee, Paddy McLaughlin, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI, handing it into the care of the Port Erin crew.
The Port Erin team have managed to save 122 lives since their inception 121 years ago in 1884.
Lewis Ridgway accepted the lifeboat on behalf of Port Erin RNLI Lifeboat Station, with a speech of thanks.
Reverend Colin Barry then led a Service of Dedication, his 5th naming ceremony conducted on behalf of the RNLI, giving thanks for the new lifeboat B-951 Neil Crowe.
The crowd then stood for hymn 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save', accompanied by Rushen Silver Band, followed by the Lord's Prayer, Dedication of the Lifeboat and The Lifeboat Prayer.
Members of the Crowe family, daughters Ginny Harrison, Lucinda Johnston and Georgina Ellis were then invited to officially name the lifeboat, spraying champagne donated by local craft winery Foraging Vintners across the bow.
Following the service, volunteer crew demonstrated the capabilities and agility of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat Neil Crowe as they performed a display.
The lifeboat was adorned with Manx and RNLI flags and red, white and blue bunting. Crew on the day were Helm Tony Mitchell, and Crew Members Jason Fleming, Iain Wilkinson and Matty Preston.
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