Whitby RNLI: Emotional day as hundreds turn out to see Whitby's new lifeboat arrive in town

At 13.49pm, under bright blue skies, a new chapter in Whitby’s long and proud sea-faring and life-saving history sailed through the fishing port’s pier ends to the cheers and applause of hundreds of onlookers.
Emma Ryan
By Emma Ryan
Published 13th Jun 2023, 06:00 BST

Lois Ivan, Whitby’s new all-weather lifeboat made its way to its new permanent home, escorted by a flotilla of yachts and fellow lifeboats from Staithes, Runswick Bay and Scarborough as well as the current Trent class Whitby lifeboat (the George and Mary Webb) and the William Riley - Whitby’s historic rowed life-boat which was most famously involved in the attempted rescue of passengers of First World War hospital ship, The Rohilla, after it ran aground during a storm off Whitby in 1914 resulting in the loss of 83 lives.

After departing RNLI headquarters in Poole on Thursday, Lois Ivan was sailed up the east coast before arriving in Whitby on Sunday at 13.49pm - the time planned to coincide with its operational numbers which are on the side of the boat.

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Richard Dowson has been a crew member for 21 years and is the station mechanic at Whitby.

The crew wave to well wishers as the lifeboat enters Whitby harbour (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)The crew wave to well wishers as the lifeboat enters Whitby harbour (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)
The crew wave to well wishers as the lifeboat enters Whitby harbour (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)

He said arriving back in Whitby with the boat was an “emotional moment”.

"It has been a big build up and we have been planning for a long time. The day it happens is quite emotional with seeing George and Mary and the William Riley. It has been a fantastic turn-out and day.

"It is mixed emotions because it is exciting to get a new boat but it will be a sad occasion when the Trent goes.

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"A lot of people may look at the boats and see the new one is smaller and think ‘bigger is better’, but the technology on it is unbelievable.”

Crowds lined the piers to welcome the new lifeboat. (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)Crowds lined the piers to welcome the new lifeboat. (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)
Crowds lined the piers to welcome the new lifeboat. (Pic: RNLI/Ceri Oakes)

At a cost of £2.5m, the Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. Having waterjet propulsion instead of traditional propellers makes the Shannon the RNLI’s most manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat.

The new lifeboat is named after Mr George Ivan Stone, and his partner Lois, who left a donation in their will, which funded the majority of the lifeboat. The rest came from public donations from people wanting to remember a loved one by having their name written on the side of the lifeboat within the operational numbers.

Interest in the new boat has surprised even the crew.

Coxswain Howard Fields said: “There have been people wanting to take photos of the names and it is very emotional. Knowing that none of the crew will see the next new lifeboat makes it a huge moment. It is a massive privilege to be part of it.

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"The technology on the boat is colossal. It is a huge step forward. It is about embracing that because it is the way forward and it is now.”

George and Mary Webb will remain in service to allow for crew training on the new boat and will be used as a relief or training boat afterwards.

Lifeboat crews at Whitby have been saving lives for more than 200 years and have received RNLI medals for gallantry 36 times.

Related topics:RNLI