East Lothian Courier | News | Splashing out with town’s new lifeboat

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 09:00

Splashing out with town’s new lifeboat

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DUNBAR RNLI has replaced the crippled Sir Ronald Pechell Bt– which snapped its moorings and was tossed onto rocks two months ago – with a newer, younger model.

The £1 million boat – in operation since 1995 – was damaged beyond economic repair during severe storms on March 22.

A huge gash cleaved into the hull, disabled the much-loved vessel.

But last week the local RNLI crew travelled to Poole to collect the John Neville Taylor from the charity’s relief fleet, now permanently allocated to the town.

The Trent class lifeboat is six years younger than its predecessor and underwent a £170,000 refit in preparation for relocation to Dunbar.

All equipment and materials which can be salvaged from the Sir Ronald Pechell Bt will help maintain the Trent class lifeboat fleet. Trent class lifeboats have a life expectancy of 20-25 years.

Dunbar RNLI chairman, David Johnston, said: “We are delighted the institution has been able to replace our old boat so quickly.

“The coxswain and some of the crew travelled to Poole last week to pick up the new boat and bring her home. They are extremely pleased with the performance of the vessel and its overall condition.

“The standard of refit on RNLI lifeboats is such that it is like getting a brand new boat. Each one has its own personality and the crew certainly got a good chance to get to know her on the passage back from Poole.”

An RNLI spokesman said that lifeboat volunteers had been overwhelmed by the support from the local community. They would be allocating any money people wished to donate to the new Dunbar lifeboat, to cover the cost of the refit.

Meanwhile, a local business has recently launched a fundraising drive to supplement the refit cost of the new Dunbar all-weather lifeboat.

Knowes Farm Shop, near East Linton, began selling anchor biscuits with the refit appeal profiting from all sales.

Shop owner, Hillary Cochran, said: “We were moved by the sight of the former Dunbar boat wrecked on the rocks at Torness and wanted to do something to help.

“The biscuits are already proving popular with folk only too happy to support such a worthy cause.”

The RNLI has expressed thanks to the volunteer coastguards, staff from Torness Power Station, Lafarge Cement Works and Coastal Marine who worked with volunteer lifeboat crews in the early hours of Saturday, March 22, to ensure the safe recovery of the Sir Ronald Pechell Bt.

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