Historic Lifeboat Rally in Belfast

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.

As part of the maritime exhibition, the Historic Lifeboat Owners Association were asked through Quinton Nelson, a member of the Sea Northern Ireland 2005 Organising Committee if some former lifeboats could attend to form a floating exhibit. Pride of the fleet was the 70 foot Clyde "Grace Paterson Ritchie" 70-002 now owned by Ian Crosbie from Ayrshire.

Quinton took a crew over to her base in Largs and sailed her over to Donaghadee a few days prior to the opening of the event. She was joined there over the weekend by his own boat "Guy and Clare Hunter" and Tom Thompsons "City of Bradford II". The boats made a great picture and were open to visitors in Donaghadee over the weekend before proceeding to Belfast on the Sunday evening, in glorious weather. Through the night, another arrival at Donaghadee was Andy Iannetta, having made a non stop proving trial from Bristol in his Barnett "Archibald and Alexander M Paterson".

She made it to Belfast in time for the opening ceremony and the boats appeared on local television that evening. Two other boats arrived out of the fog later in the week, former Padstow No2 Liverpool, "Bassett Green" now heavily converted with an all over cabin.Her owner David Inglis brought her down from Crinan basin, Argyll. Last to arrive was the former Beaumaris Watson, Derek Hassall's "Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts" from the Isle of Man. The crews were presented with a City of Belfast Plaque and some tourist information by the Belfast Welcome Centre.

On the Friday a visit was arranged by Quinton to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum where the magnificent railway and classic car collections attracted much interest. The boat crews were entertained and shown around by Curator of Maritime Exhibits, Michael McCaughan. The museum also has a superb outdoor exhibit of historically important buildings taken down stone by stone in all parts of Ireland and re-erected on the museum site in the form of a village with outlying farms and small family businesses. They also have a Titanic exhibition with many artifacts, plus the old trading schooner "Result". Their lifeboat was not unfortunately on display, the "William and Laura" ex Newcastle, Co-Down, Liverpool.

Over the weekend a good time was had by all and the boats attracted many admiring visitors. Some other owners who could not make it with their boats, came to support the event, Tim Kirton, Northumberland, owner of Liverpool "Aguila Wren", John Parr, Liverpool, owner of "Chapman" and "Thomas Corbett", Graham Mountford, Newquay Cornwall,owner of "City of Bradford III" and Guy Thompson with his family from Danbury, Essex, owner of "Iris O'Faith", Barnett class "James and Francis Mc Farlane"

The vessels dispersed for their home ports on the Sunday. Thanks go to the organisers, to Belfast Welcome Centre, to Michael McCaughan of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, to the Port of Belfast, particularly the Harbour Master for all his help and not least to Mr Paul Scott of Scotts Fuels, Belfast, for a donation of fuel for the boats.

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