Fowey Rally 2011 notice of disassociation.

Donaghadee Station Centenary celebrations 2010
Historic Lifeboats wanted.

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Delivery of Watson 47’ Ex-RNLB ‘Louisa Anne Hawker’ (Appledore, North Devon) from Milord Haven to Langkawi, Malaysia (October 2003)

I have always had an interest in lifeboats and the services they perform; it could, perhaps, even be in the blood because my great-great Uncle, Richard Palk Cutler C.O.G.C,R.N. was Head of HM Coastguards for North Devon & Cornwall at the beginning of the 20th century and lived in the Coastguard Cottages at Ilfracombe and rode from station to station on a donkey! It is the classic shape of lifeboats that have always intrigued me, and their solidity and ruggedness which seems to stand out against the plethora of other vessels that use the seas.

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A member of the MCA marine survey team from Belfast, Keith Patterson, when recently out in France carrying out some work in a French
Shipyard, spotted the unmistakeable shape of a British Lifeboat in an adjoining shed. On investigation she turned out to be the former
Padstow 61 foot Barnett class boat "Princess Mary". Knowing this would be of interest to our members, he kindly took some pictures.

The boat was undergoing some re-furbishment including a new stempost and the engines were out.

On 19th August 2004 ‘Louisa Anne Hawker’, a 47’ Watson class lifeboat formerly in service from 1962 to 1986 with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute at Appledore, North Devon, performed a rescue in the Northern Straits of Malacca, Malaysia, some eighteen years after her last official service (providing assistance to the cabin cruiser ‘Stingray’ on 12th November 1986). Having been in Malaysia for less than a year, ‘Louisa Anne Hawker’, has proved beyond all doubt that her age and the unfamiliar tropical conditions have not affected her ability to assist those in difficulty at sea.

First Historic Lifeboat Rally in Belfast.

As part of the Sea Britain 2005 festival, Northern Irelands contribution was a week of Maritime activities around the Port of Belfast. The former World War One "C" class three funnel Cruiser, "HMS Caroline" hosted a mariners exhibition and was herself, open to the public "HMS Caroline" is home to the Royal Naval Reserve in Northern Ireland ans is still a commissioned warship.

ON 805 - Replacement of Engines Tony Merriman.

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After much preparation we finally left the Royal Dart Yacht Club pontoons in Kingwear on the Friday evening at 7 pm to cross the channel to attend the Rallies at Brest and Dournenez. We had originally intended to leave the night before to arrive in time for the Friday evening Crew Party - an amazing event where the organisers feed and water about 5,000 crew in true Gallic style. Unfortunately, it had been blowing hard from the North West most of that week and was still quite fresh all day Thursday, so it was decided to delay our departure until the Friday evening.

This 37 foot Oakley class lifeboat, built in 1961 served at Weston Super Mare until 1969 when the station was redesignated an Atlantic21. The boat then became a relief lifeboat serving as far away as Wells in Norfolk. In 1991 she was sold to the Milford Haven Docks Board and ended up languishing outside their harbour museum on her carriage.

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Delivering Iris