New Boat Arrives!
Redcar RNLI lifeboat station has taken delivery of a brand new inshore lifeboat thanks to the generosity of a woman from West Yorkshire. Named Jacky Hunsley, the new lifeboat is an updated version of the D class - one of the workhorses of the RNLI fleet - and is known as the Inshore Boat 1 (IB1).

Jacqueline Hunsley came from Leeds and died on 27 September 1999 in a tragic bus accident in South Africa. A lifelong supported of the lifeboat service, she left the RNLI a share of her residuary estate with the wish that the money be used in the area of the North Yorkshire coastline.

As well as funding the new £29,000 IB1 lifeboat, her legacy has funded an IT upgrade, IT training and crew training at Redcar for the period 2004 to 2008. A plaque can be found on the wall of the lifeboat station to commemorate Jacqueline’s donation.

On taking delivery of the new lifeboat, Redcar RNLI lifeboat operations manager, Dave Cammish, said: ‘The crew are delighted and privileged to receive this new lifeboat, which we will put to good use for many years to come. Legacies are a vital source of funds for the RNLI and without the generosity and thoughtfulness of people like Jacqueline Hunsley, we would be unable to carry on saving lives at sea.’

Redcar RNLI helmsman, Mike Picknett, added: ‘The new IB1 has improved speed and maneuverability compared to the D class Peterborough Beer Festival 1 that has served us so well since 1997.

‘It is ideal for many of the shouts we get off the Redcar coast and will enable us to carry these rescues out faster and more effectively than ever before.’

Redcar RNLI lifeboat station has a longstanding connection with the people of West Yorkshire. From 1951 to 1965 the City of Leeds lifeboat, bought after a fundraising appeal in the city, was operational in Redcar. And, in the late 19th century, the lifeboat Emma, named after Mrs Emma Dawson of Weston Hall in Otley, was stationed in the town. See History section.

The arrival of the new lifeboat attracted wide media attention - see screen dumps from BBC and ITV news broadcasts (All copyrights acknowledged)

 ...first published 7 Aug 2007...