Naming an RNLI lifeboat is a once-in-a-lifetime honour – an honour that fell to 14-year-old Rachel Fairhurst during a special ceremony in July ...

Our newest Shannon class lifeboat and her launching equipment was funded from a £5M public appeal.

As a relief boat, she will go on to save lives all around the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Storm Force, the RNLI’s club for children, launched a competition to name the craft and Rachel’s entry – Storm Rider – made it to the shortlist from hundreds of others. RNLI supporters from far and wide then chose their favourite and Rachel’s idea stormed home as the clear winner with over 13,000 votes.

Rachel, a Storm Force member from Gateshead, was inspired after seeing a film of an historical lifeboat rescue. She explains: ‘I thought about the fierce storm that night and how the townspeople were so brave … to risk their own lives to save others. I imagined the lifeboat and all those brave souls in it riding the storm.’

Get your little ones onboard today at: RNLI.org/StormforceLFmag14 or call 0300 300 9990, quoting SFLB/1410

SIGN THEM UP TODAY FOR JUST £10
A child you know could discover the exciting world of the RNLI. Storm Force members receive a membership pack full of goodies and four issues of Storm Force magazine a year. They’ll find beach safety tips, epic real-life rescue stories, interviews, games, puzzles, exclusive online goodies and more!