Relief fleet - D ciass City of Peterborough A new D class lifeboat funded by money raised from a special appeal in the Peterborough area, and organised by the local Peterborough branch, was officially handed over and dedicated in a ceremony that took place at the Queensgate Centre on 5 October 1990.

Mr Malcolm Smith, chairman of Peterborough branch, welcomed those present and Mr Charles Amor, former chairman of the branch handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI. She was accepted by Mr Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fund raising and marketing, for use in the relief fleet.

A service of dedication followed, conducted by the Very Reverend Randolph Wise, Dean of Peterborough, and Mr Edward Jinks of Norwich Union Real Estates Management then named the lifeboat City of Peterborough.

The ceremony closed with Mr Robert Edwards of Peterborough Regional College presenting the City of Peterborough coat of arms to the RNLI. Ramsgate - Tyne class Kenneth Thelwall II The naming ceremony of Ramsgate's new Tyne class lifeboat took place in brilliant sunshine following a night of strong winds and heavy rain. There were over 300 invited guests, all seated, with a good number of other people, mainly locals and passers-by, also in attendance.

The new lifeboat is named in memory of Mr Kenneth Thelwall of Walkington, East Yorkshire and is the second lifeboat to be provided from his bequest.

Mr Richard Taylor, chairman of the station branch opened proceedings before introducing Mr Christopher Hobson, executor to Mr Thelwall, who formally handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI, represented on this occasion by Mr Michael Vernon, the Institution's Chairman.

Mr Vernon in turn handed the new lifeboat into the care of the station, on whose behalf it was accepted by Captain Philip Toghill, the station honorary secretary.

The service of dedication which followed was conducted by the Reverend Ronald Meredith and Mrs Lucia Hobson was then invited to name the lifeboat Kenneth Thelwall 11. Ilfracombe - Mersey class Spirit of Derbyshire A week-long spell of fine weather held until Saturday 29 September, the day llfracombe's new Mersey class lifeboat was 'officially named and dedicated. However, the rain did hold off forthe many invited guests and local people who had gathered to watch the ceremony.

The lifeboat has been funded from special appeals to the people of Derbyshire, by the Ilfracombe station branch and other gifts and legacies. A contingent from Derbyshire travelled to Devon specially for the occasion.

Before the ceremony began, Gemma Louise Evans, grand-daughter of the Ilfracombe coxswain, David Clemence, presented a bouquet to Mrs Winifred Hilton, chairman of the Spirit of Derbyshire lifeboat appeal, who was to name the lifeboat. Mrs Hilton was also presented with a leather-bound copy of the programme.

Mr Leonard Coleman, chairman of Ilfracombe station branch then welcomed those present and introduced the patron of the appeal. Colonel Peter Hilton, Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, who officially handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI. The Institution was represented on this occasion by Lt Cdr Jeremy Tetley, a vice president.

He in turn passed the lifeboat into the care of the Ilfracombe station, represented by the honorary secretary Mr Colin Knill.

The service of dedication was conducted by the Reverend Cyril Tennant, honorary lifeboat chaplain for Ilfracombe with the music provided by the Ilfracombe and District Youth Band. SkegnCSS - Mersey class Lincolnshire Poacher Summer seemed to end at Skegness on 30 September with heavy showers hampering the preparations for the official opening of the lifeboat house and the naming of Lincolnshire Poacher.

In welcoming everyone, the chairman of the station, Mr Basil Major, expressed regret that Mr John Van Geest was not able to be with his good lady, Mrs Lucille Van Geest, for the ceremony and asked that the best wishes from all at Skegness be conveyed to him.

Mr Jack Roughton, chairman of the Lincolnshire lifeboat appeal, then gave a resume of the appeal work, and invited Mr Michael Vernon, Chairman of the RNLI, officially to open the lifeboat house.

On returning to the platform Mr Vernon received the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI from Mrs Van Geest. In accepting, Mr Vernon paid tribute to the appeal committee, but particularly to Mr and Mrs Van Geest whose generosity had funded the lifeboat and allowed the crew to choose the name. He commented that with the gift of the D class lifeboat a few years ago by a Lincoln family, today saw the complete modernisation of the Skegness station, all provided by Lincolnshire people.

Mr Terry Smart, in receiving the lifeboat on behalf of the station, described a recent service call which could not have been undertaken by the previous lifeboat, a point expanded upon by Mr Tom Nutman, divisional inspector of lifeboats for the east division, in his description of the Mersey class lifeboat.

A moving service was conducted by Reverend Stuart Ridley, assisted by Reverend Norman Walker, Reverend Stephen Holmes and Reverend Father Joseph Finneran. Mrs Margaret Walter, chairman of Skegness Ladies' guild, then thanked the Skegness Town Youth Silver Band, the GNCS Choir, the Council and many others for their support.

Mrs Lucille Van Geest then named the lifeboatLincolnshire Poacher before boarding the lifeboat for a short trip to sea where to her delight she took command under the watchful eye of Coxswain Paul Martin.

BHS Relief fleet -D class British Diver HI, C class British Diver IV Two new inshore lifeboats were named at a special ceremony at the RNLI's Cowes Base on 24 October 1990.

Both the lifeboats were funded by the British Sub Aqua Club who originally launched a successful appeal in 1981 to fund an Atlantic 21 lifeboat. The appeal has continued, going on to raise over £85,000, with money still coming in. Two Atlantic 21 lifeboats have now been funded by the Club and these are stationed at Whitstable in Kent and Harwich in Essex.

Commander Peter Gladwin, then Superintendent Cowes Base, opened the proceedings and introduced Mr Deric Ellerby, chairman of the British Sub Aqua Club, who handed over the lifeboats to the RNLI represented on this occasion by Anthony Oliver, deputy head of fund raising and marketing. Mr Richard Perks, RNLI staff officer, then described the lifeboats and their future role in the relief fleet and after a short service of dedication led by the Reverend Stuart Cleaver, Priest in Charge of Whippingham and East Cowes, Mrs Daphne Ellerby named the D class lifeboat British Diver III and Mrs Cherry Painter, wife of the treasurer of the Club, named the C class British Diver IV. Skerries - D class Helen Mitchell Scrimgeour A special ceremony to name the new lifeboat at Skerries, Co Dublin, was held on 23 September 1990.

The D class inshore lifeboat has been funded by a bequest to the RNLI by Miss Helen Mitchell Scrimgeour and the boat was officially named Helen Mitchell Scrimgeour by Mrs Pauline Carthy, wife of Sgt Brian Carthy, chairman of Skerries branch. WlcklOW - Tyne class Annie Blaker An historic and proud event took place in Wicklow on 19 May when Irish and international dignitaries arrived in the town for the naming of the new lifeboat Annie Blaker by the President of the Republic of Ireland, Dr Patrick Hillery.

The lifeboat was handed over to the Chairman of the RNLI, Mr Michael Vernon, by Mr Neville West, executor of the estate of Miss A.L. Blaker whose bequest had provided a substantial proportion of the cost of the new lifeboat. Mr Michael Jones, honorary secretary, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the branch.

The service of dedication and blessing was conducted by The Most Reverend Desmond Cornell DD, Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Reverend Donald Caird DD, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, and The Reverend Christopher Walpole.

Having officially opened the newly-extended lifeboat house, Dr Hillery was introduced to the lifeboat crew. In his address he praised the voluntary nature of the work they do so willingly, often in extreme conditions.

He also spoke of the continuing modernisation of the lifeboat fleet in Ireland and the continuing upgrading of lifeboat stations. At Wicklow alone the RNLI had invested close to £lm to provide the new Tyne class lifeboat and the extended lifeboat house and slipway. He welcomed and thanked the Chairman of the Institution, Mr Michael Vernon, who had travelled from London for the occasion as had the Director, Lt Cdr Brian Miles.

After the service of dedication and blessing Dr Hillery and the platform party boarded the new lifeboat. He officially named the new lifeboat Annie Blaker in the time honoured way 'May God bless her and all who sail in her...' The vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs Louise Tyner, president of Wicklow Ladies' guild. Relief Fleet - D ciass Ann Speed Miss Linda Stroud of the John Lewis Partnership named a new D class inshore lifeboat Anne Speed at a ceremony held at the RNLI's Poole Depot on 9 August 1990 The ceremony was attended by several members of the John Lewis Partnership Sailing Club, representing their colleagues who between them over the last three years had subscribed through various charity functions towards the cost of the lifeboat.

The JLPSC has five yachts which sail in the Solent and Poole Bay and they are particularly conscious of the valuable service provided by the RNLI.

The proceedings were opened by the Institution's Deputy Director, Ray Kipling, who introduced the Commodore of the JLPSC, Martin Sands who was to formally hand over the new lifeboat to the RNLI.

Mr Kipling then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and Mike Pennell, a staff officer of the Institution described the boat and her future lifesaving role.

The Reverend Stanley Holbrooke-Jones, Rector of Poole then conducted a service of dedication before Mrs Linda Stroud oficially named the lifeboat Ann Speed..