Lifeboat with royal links to be given fresh lease of life

International shipping company Gardline has donated the boat called Mermaid to the Beverley Barge Preservation Society, which hopes to start running trips from Beverley Beck next April. The society has also taken on a barge, called the Sun, bought from British Waterways for a nominal sum of just £1, which they hope to convert to take people in wheelchairs.

The society’s deputy chairman Tony Hardwidge said: “It has definitely been used to carry Royalty, but I can’t confirm which Royalty it carried. We think it might have been Diana and Charles. I’d be pleased to hear from anyone with more information.”

The boat can take eight people and two crew and places won’t have to be booked in advance, unlike their two other boats, the restored barge Syntan and the Sun.

Mr Hardwidge said: “We intend to do trips up and down Beverley Back and also to the remains of Leven Lock and Hempholme Lock. She will be following Syntan to York in July next year hopefully, and so will the Sun.” The society hopes to raise £50,000 to convert the Sun.

To donate by text send the message SYNT01 £10 (or any amount) to 70070.