After 3 years of fundraising, Angle’s new Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason is now on service at the Pembrokeshire station.

The fundraising was begun at grassroots level, with the launch of the Tamar4Angle appeal locally and in Birmingham. A £1.6M donation from the Mark Master Masons completed the funding, and the £2.7M lifeboat arrived on station on 17 March.

Angle Lifeboat Operations Manager John Allen-Mirehouse says: ‘We are extremely proud to be the second lifeboat station in Wales to take delivery of this fantastic class of boat, and seeing her arrive (pictured) was quite a moment for everyone.’

Meanwhile, the appeal for improving Hoylake lifeboat station, Wirral, has now raised £1.1M. This milestone is halfway to the £2M target, but there’s still work to do, as Fundraising Manager Audrey Farr explains: ‘The appeal has already helped fund the new Hoylake lifeboat station and the crew are enjoying the benefits of their wonderful new home. Now, we are focusing on raising money for a new all-weather lifeboat.’

Hoylake’s Mersey class lifeboat Lady of Hilbre is due to be replaced with an FCB2, the next generation of carriage-launched lifeboat. See page 13 for more on FCB2.