Two New Lifeboats To Be Officially Named In Newcastle

Newcastle RNLI to name new Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats

Two new inshore lifeboats, an Atlantic 85 and D class, are to be officially named during a special ceremony and service of dedication at Newcastle Lifeboat Station at 2pm tomorrow, Saturday, 12th September. 

The Atlantic 85 class lifeboat which went on service in December, will be named Berylium and has been funded by Beryl and the late Gilbert Williamson.

Beryl and her late husband Gilbert had always intended to fund a lifeboat on their deaths. After Gilbert’s death, Beryl decided that she would prefer to fund two lifeboats during her lifetime. Beryl is naming the boat Berylium in the hope that she will be a treasured diamond in the fleet and a great asset in helping volunteers to save lives at sea.

Beryl and Gilbert’s association with the sea goes back to the 13th Century, when one of their ancestors, Sir Patrick Spens, was ordered by the King to sail to Norway during winter.  Although Sir Patrick knew that this was extremely dangerous, he obeyed the King, resulting in him not only losing his own life, but also his crew and his ship.

Beryl and Gilbert also lost seven family members in the Eyemouth Fishing Disaster in 1881. The couple were involved in opening the first RNLI charity shop, called the Lucky Dip, in Edinburgh in 1967.

Meanwhile, the D class lifeboat which first went on service last October, has been funded by Margaret Cameron and will be named Cameronian. Margaret has also generously supported the funding of the new Shannon class lifeboat, Bobby Cameron, at Kilkeel RNLI.

Margaret who will attend the naming ceremony, was brought up with three brothers on a farm at Gracehill during the World War II years. Money was precious and Margaret and her family were taught to be thrifty.

Following retirement, Margaret undertook a journalist course and worked as a freelance writer whilst also enjoying creative writing. She volunteered in the Marie Curie Centre, Belfast, and at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea. In 2018, Margaret travelled to Buckingham Palace, with her brother Bobby and her two nephews, where she was awarded an MBE by the Queen.

A new era of lifesaving was heralded at Newcastle RNLI following the arrival of Berylium and Cameronian and when in January, volunteers bade a fond farewell to the last operational Mersey class lifeboat in the charity’s fleet.

Since going on service, the two new lifeboats have launched 10 times with their volunteer crews coming to the aid of four people, one of whom was a life saved.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s naming ceremony, Daniel Curran, Newcastle RNLI Launch Authority said: “This is a special day for our lifeboat volunteers, our families and all our supporters as we prepare to officially name both our lifeboats.

“We are indebted to Margaret Cameron and to Beryl and the late Gilbert Williamson and we thank them for their generosity.

“We will be proud custodians of these lifeboats, which we know will go on to rescue many people and save lives in the years ahead.”