Eliza to be named in RNLI event after fund left in will

Eliza to be named in RNLI event after fund left in will

22 April 2015

NEWCASTLE RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat will be officially named in a special ceremony this weekend.

The new D class vessel — which went into service last December— was funded through a gift left in a will from the late Mary Olga Illingworth in memory of her mother Eliza, which is the name of the new lifeboat. Mrs Illingworth lived in Sheffield and passed away in April 2011

This Saturday’s official naming ceremony will be conducted by Mr Will Wilson, President of Newcastle Lifeboat Station.

Ahead of the event, Newcastle RNLI lifeboat operations manager, Kingsley Singer, described the naming ceremony as a “special occasion for the lifeboat station.”

He continued: “We are most grateful to the late Mary Illingworth for the generous gift left in her will which has funded our lifeboat, Eliza.  We will be proud custodians of this lifeboat which will go on to rescue and save many lives in the years ahead.”

Since the RNLI established a lifeboat station in Newcastle in 1825, there have been 659 lifeboat launches, saving 268 lives and rescuing 501 people. Throughout those years, 30 medals for gallantry have been awarded including four gold, 19 silver and seven bronze.

The station, which is also home to an all-weather Mersey class lifeboat, first welcomed a D class inshore lifeboat back in 1994. Today, the D class lifeboat remains the workhorse of the RNLI as it has for nearly 50 years.

The inflatable craft is highly manoeuvrable and specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations, often working close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves.

The D class has a single 50hp outboard engine and can be righted manually by the crew after a capsize. Equipment includes fitted and hand-held VHF radio, night-vision equipment, first-aid including oxygen.

First introduced in 1963, the D class design has continued to evolve and the latest version was introduced in 2003. The new Eliza has a maximum speed of 25 knots and can carry three crew members and five survivors.

Saturday’s naming service takes place at noon at Newcastle RNLI station.