Eastbourne RNLI welcome their new D Class
The volunteer crew and station volunteers at Eastbourne attended the naming ceremony of their D Class Inshore Lifeboat ‘David H’ on Saturday 13 April. The lifeboat is named after David Hillebrand who left the RNLI a donation in his will.
The D Class lifeboat has been on service with the station for around a year and already has been credited with one life saved. The volunteer crew and volunteers from all the teams at the station, water safety, shop and fundraising were joined by David Hillebrands daughter Carolyn Acton and her husband as well as RNLI Chair Janet Legrand for the ceremony held at the inshore lifeboat station on Fisherman’s Green in Eastbourne.
The ceremony was opened by station Mechanic James Wishman who welcomed everyone before the boat was handed over to the RNLI officially by Coxswain Guy Emery on behalf of Carolyn Acton. Janet Legrand, Chair of the RNLI, accepted the boat on behalf of the RNLI and thanked the family before handing over to Lifeboat Operations Manager Carl Pocock.
‘We are extremely grateful for the donation David Hillebrand left to the RNLI and this lifeboat will help us to save lives at sea. 'David H' has already launched on service 53 times whilst on station, assisting ten people and has already been credited with one life saved.’ Operations Manager Carl Pocock said during his speech
Father Robert Coates, station chaplain for Eastbourne then blessed the boat before Carolyn Acton Officially named the D Class ‘David H’. Helm Tom Mele then thanked everyone before the volunteers at Eastbourne launched ‘David H’ on exercise to demonstrate the boat’s capabilities alongside the station Trent Class All Weather Lifeboat ‘Esme Anderson’
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
RNLI at 200
On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.