The Chief Executive of the RNLI and Wirral’s Mayor will officially name West Kirby’s new lifeboat at a special ceremony on Saturday 21 September.
It follows a fundraising campaign which saw £73,000 raised in less than eight months to purchase the D-class vessel, Leonard Pownall.
The ceremony will begin at noon and members of the public will be able to see it from the old baths site opposite the lifeboat station gates on South Parade.
Following the naming ceremony, there will be a lifeboat and lifeguard jet ski water safety display on the marine lake.
The event will be attended by RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes, former Royal Navy and Britannia Captain Hugh Daglish, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Councillors Cherry Povall and Sheila Clarke.
West Kirby RNLI celebrating reaching their fundraising target
When the fundraising target was reached last year, West Kirby RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Richard Diamond, said: “The kindness, support and generosity of our community has been incredible and rather humbling, especially given the impact of the cost of living during this period.
“Witnessing how our community actively got behind this appeal, from individuals, community groups, businesses and sports clubs to achieve the £50,000 target in just six months has really blown me away.
“It’s been a wonderful example of how our one crew ethos helps us save lives at sea. Thank you all, it’s greatly appreciated.”
West Kirby’s previous lifeboat, Seahorse, was retired last October after more than a decade of service which saw it launched 166 times, saving the lives of eight people and aiding 200 more.
Photo credits: David Edwards