Tenby's new 4.9m (16ft) D class inshore lifeboat, The Georgina Stanley Taylor, will be officially named and dedicated at a ceremony to be held at Tenby Harbour next Saturday morning, September 22.
This is the second lifeboat at Tenby to be kindly funded by Mrs. Georgina Stanley Taylor. It will replace the lifeboat, The Stanley Taylor, which was funded in memory of her late husband.
The chairman of Tenby Lifeboat Station, Mr. Howard Griffiths, will open the proceedings, during which Mr. Richard Gray will hand over the lifeboat to the RNLI on behalf of the donor, Mrs. Stanley Taylor.
Mr. Michael Vlaston, operations director of the RNLI, will accept the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and place it in the care of Tenby lifeboat station. Tenby hon. secretary, Mr. Arthur Squibbs, will accept the lifeboat on behalf of the station.
The Rev. Mark Soady, team vicar of St. Mary's Church, assisted by other local clergy, will conduct the service of dedication. Mrs. Georgina Stanley Taylor, donor of the lifeboat, will name the lifeboat The Georgina Stanley Taylor.
The D class lifeboat was introduced in 1963 to fulfil the need for a fast rescue boat which could reach casualties very quickly. She has a top speed of 20 knots and is constructed of a nylon based material called nipolon, which is high impact and abrasive resistant, making the lifeboat ideal for working close inshore amongst the rocks and surf. These craft account for over one third of all lifeboat services.
Tenby Lifeboat Station was established in 1852 and since that time its volunteer lifeboat crews have launched over 2,000 times saving move than 1,700 lives. The volunteer crew of Tenby have a long and courageous history of saving lives at sea and over the years have been awarded 15 RNLI medals for bravery and long service, the last being awarded in 1990.