Relief Fleet - Atlantic 75 Susan PeacockWednesday 21 April 1993 saw the naming of the first of a new inshore lifeboat design, the Atlantic 75. Developed from the highly successful Atlantic 21 which has been in operation since 1972, the name is derived from its length of nearly 7.5m.

The cost of this prototype, which will be used in the RNLI relief fleet, has been covered by the fundraising efforts of the staff of the cash and carry wholesalers Nurdin and Peacock whose contribution was matched by the company itself.The company's honorary president and former chairman, Michael Peacock CBE named the lifeboat after his wife.

At the ceremony, which took place at the Institution's Poole depot, Alan Eaton, former general manager of Nurdin and Peacock Keynsham branch, handed over the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI. Mr Roly Franks, chairman of the RNLI Boat and Shoreworks Committee, accepted the lifeboat into the relief fleet and Richard Perks, the Institution's staff officer described the lifeboat and its future role.

A service of dedication then followed, conducted by the Reverend Stanley Holbrooke-Jones, rector of Poole.

Mr Michael Peacock and his wife were then invited to name the lifeboat Susan Peacock.Blackpool -D class RJM The second D class lifeboat to be funded by Stockport South East branch was handed over and dedicated at a ceremony held on 18 April 1993.

The chairman of Blackpool station branch, Mrs Zena Burslem, welcomed everyone and expressed the warm gratitude of everyone in Blackpool to the good people of Stockport who had generously funded a second lifeboat.

There was now a close bond of friendship between the two communities.

The boat, named RJM at the request of a generous Stockport businessman, was handed over by the chairman of Stockport South East branch, Stuart Helm. It was received by Donald Redford CBE DL, vice president of the Institution. The station honorary secretary, Roland Darbyshire then accepted the lifeboat into the safekeeping of the station.

A service of dedication was conducted by Canon Richard Impey who spoke of the close links in the RNLI between crews and fundraisers. He expressed the belief that this relationship was one of the great strengths of the organisation..