Handing over ceremony for new RNLI Flint lifeboat

Flint RNLI celebrated the arrival of their new lifeboat ‘Lady Barbara’ with a  Handing Over  & Dedication ceremony at Flint lifeboat station on Sunday 4^th September.

The new lifeboat ‘Lady Barbara’ has been partially funded by a generous £35k donation from local RNLI supporter David Sadler in memory of his late wife Barbara who sadly died in April 2015. Barbara was the energetic secretary of the Buckley Branch of the RNLI for many years and was awarded the RNLI Silver Badge in 2013 at a ceremony in Chester.

The new lifeboat is designed to operate in shallow water, and is therefore an ideal craft for work in the River Dee, it is 5 metres in length, has a maximum speed of 25knots, and can remain at sea for 3 hours before needing to refuel.

David Sadler said ‘I feel humbled, honoured, and extremely privileged to make this contribution to the RNLI for the new Lifeboat at Flint. I can think of no better memorial to Barbara than to allow her name to be used is assisting those in need. She will be delighted to be associated with such a dedicated volunteer lifeboat crew and other volunteers at the station in whatever role they may play.

The balance of the £50k craft was raised by the Flint RNLI Appeal committee, the money came from donations, or collections, & events organised by the committee.

Richard Polden volunteer press officer at Flint said ‘Our supporters have once again been very generous and we can’t thank them enough, the support we receive from the people and businesses of Flint is tremendous’

Alan Forrester volunteer lifeboat operations manager at Flint lifeboat station said ‘this is a proud day for the station, and we are really pleased that our dear friend Barbara is being honoured in this way, she was a great supporter of the station, whether on the barbeque stall at the dog show, a steward on bonfire night, or helping us with risk assessments for various fundraising events, Barbara was always there for us, and will now continue to be so’

Since arrival of ‘Lady Barbara’ the volunteer crew have launched on seven occasions and saved one life, that of a para glider on the 5^th June the latest rescue mission was to rescue a single occupant from a boat stranded on a sandbank at 4am last Wednesday.

Since an RNLI volunteer lifeboat station was established at Flint 50 years ago, the volunteers have launched 678 times and saved 98 lives, a record every volunteer at the station past and present is justly proud of.

Richard Polden Flint RNLI volunteer press officer