Barry Dock RNLI has celebrated the official opening of the new lifeboat station, and the naming of the new Shannon class lifeboat.
Both the lifeboat station and Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, christened "Richard and Caroline Colton II", came to life in a festive ceremony on Saturday, July 27.
The proceedings marked a pivotal day in the history of Barry Dock, a day on which the lifeboat station, operational since 2023, was handed to the RNLI through the efforts of supporters and donor representatives.
The station, essential to marine rescue efforts around Barry, was gifted for safekeeping by Enid Jones, a community backer.
The £2.5m lifeboat was transferred under RNLI’s care by Charles Denton, representing the donors who have helped fund it.
Janet Legrand, RNLI chairperson, accepted both valuable additions and designated them to the Barry Dock crew.
The funding for the lifeboat was courtesy of a remarkable legacy of Richard Colton, who left two rarities – Ferraris – in his will which raised £8.5m in an auction in 2015.
Part of this sum, alongside a generous gift from the Myristica Trust, was utilised to finance the lifeboat.
Liz Matthews, a fundraiser, had the honour of declaring the station open, with Helen Weber, another donor representative, officially giving the lifeboat its moniker.
Immediately after, Reverend Kevin Lake led the service of dedication, a symbolic gesture of blessing and acceptance, trailed by a heartfelt thank-you speech from Bill Kitchen, the lifeboat operations manager at Barry Dock Lifeboat Station.
The occasion was made merrier by the presence of the crew’s families, crew members, community representatives, and the Barry Brass Band, all delighting in the upbeat atmosphere of the lifeboat station opening and naming ceremony.
Reverend Kevin Lake further led a short service of dedication for the lifeboat, succeeded by a show of its navigational prowess on the water, exciting the attending crowd.
In a heartwarming closing note, Barry Dock RNLI expressed profound gratitude to their donors and trusts.
Their continued support enables the Barry Dock Lifeboat Station’s lifesaving operations to persist for the foreseeable future.
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