On a blustery day Lerwick's lifeboat community officially welcomed their new Severn class lifeboat, Michael and Jane Vernon, into service. The lifeboat was named on 19 July in honour of Sir Michael Vernon, recently retired Chairman of the RNLI, and his wife Lady Jane Vernon (pictured left naming the lifeboat}.

The vessel was funded by bequests from Miss Eleanor Rennie and Ronald Fee, a gift from Mr J. Young and the Lerwick lifeboat appeal..