Flamborough RNLI team takes delivery of new lifeboat

After 19 years of service, RNLI lifeboat B820 Elizabeth Jane Palmer has been retired as the station took delivery of a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat B959 Forever Yibba.

Flamborough Lifeboat B820 Elizabeth Jane Palmer entered service at the station at South Landing on Monday, August 13, 2007, her first launch on service coming just three days later.

To date B820 has been launched on service 486 times the most recent being three days ago on Saturday, June 27.

During her 19 years service B820 has been credited with 77 lives saved.

A few tears were shed as the boat was loaded onto the low loader transporter. The new Atlantic 85, B959 Forever Yibba was greeted with great enthusiasm by a large group of RNLI personnel, volunteer crew, fundraisers and friends.

Flamborough Lifeboat Operations manager, David Freeman, said: “It’s great for the station to have a new boat, hopefully she will be as successful as her predecessor which has given us an incredible 19 years of service.”

He also expressed sincere gratitude to the donor of both lifeboats, Bill Wraith. The station’s chaplain Fr T Wilson said a few words and blessed the new boat before the donor Bill Wraith talked of his lasting friendship with Flamborough RNLI.

He said that Flamborough RNLI had been a great help to him and was proud that his donations had played a part in saving so many lives.