1 CCl - Mersey class Ruby Clenf Saturday 12 September 1992 started dry with the threat of rain later, but fortunately not until the naming ceremony of the new Peel lifeboat Ruby Clery was almost over.

The Mersey class lifeboat replaced an Atlantic 21, and is the first all-weather lifeboat at Peel for nearly 20 years.

A good crowd had gathered by the breakwater outside the new boathouse, built to accommodate the Mersey and her carriage, and the proceedings included the official opening of the boathouse.

This ceremony was performed by Edwin Waterworth, a long-time benefactor of the RNLI and Peel lifeboat, who had provided and installed the hand-crafted furnishings in memory of his late wife, Mrs Mabel Waterworth.

The lifeboat was named by Mrs Karin BacheNordli, the grand-daughter of the captain of the Norwegian cargo ship St George, which foundered off Peel Castle in October 1889 and had travelled from Norway for the ceremony. The captain, his wife and tiny baby (Mrs Nordli's mother) and the crew of the St George were all rescued by the Peel lifeboat and her figurehead stands at Peel lifeboat house to this day as a reminder of the courageous rescue.

The lifeboat had been provided from the generous legacy of the late Ruby Clery, the great, great, grand-daughter of Sir William Hillary. Unfortunately representatives of the family could not be present to hand over the lifeboat, so the role was performed by Ray Kipling, deputy director of the RNLI.

Also on the platform were the LordBishop and the heads of the churches of Peel, the service being led by the Reverend Andrew Palmer, Peel branch honorary secretary Allen Corlett and chairman John Teare, Raymond Cory CBE, and Mrs Hazel Hannan, vice president of the Peel ladies' guild, who proposed the vote of thanks.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Air Marshall Sir Lawrence Jones, attended, together with various senior government and civil dignitaries.

With the weather just holding, John Teare began the proceedings and the boathouse was officially opened. There followed the service of dedication and John Kennaugh read the poem 'St George' a tribute to the famous rescue by Manx poet T.E. Brown.

Then came the naming. Mrs Nordli spoke first in Norwegian and then in English with Ruby Clery standing at the top of the new slipway, high on her carriage and ready for launching. Coxswain David Eames and his crew stood by as the champagne bottle was cracked on the foredeck.

With music by theCrosby Silver Band and a piper on board to play 'Elian Vannin' as the boat ran down the slip, Ruby Clery was launched into Pee! Bay.

The drizzle had started but spirits were high, and while some took advantage of a trip out in the lifeboat, others retired to the boathouse for tea and biscuits.

The day was rounded off with an evening buffet/disco organised by the crew. Peel's new lifeboat was well and truly christened and everybody wished Ruin/, her coxswain and crew a safe and successful futurt'.Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the patrons of The Lord Raglan public house in Wokingham, a new D class lifeboat has been placed at Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour).

Landlord Nigel Moxham and his customers raised enough money to fund the £10,000 boat and Lord Raglan was named and dedicated in a ceremony at the lifeboat station on 17October 1992.

Chairman of the Portsmouth branch, Owen Pearce, welcomed the guests and Colin Williams, deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the south east outlined the history of the D class and its role. Mr Moxham, representing the donors, then officially handed over the lifeboat to Eric Freeman, a member of the Institution's committee of management, who in turn passed the lifeboat into the care of David Eastland, honorary secretary for the station.

The short service of dedication which followed was conducted by the Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Reverend Timothy Bavin. The Right Honourable The Lord Raglan then named the lifeboat Lord Raglan..