THE volunteer team at Port Isaac RNLI held the formal naming ceremony and service of dedication for its new D class inshore lifeboat Pride of Port Isaac (Goeth Pothusek).

The event took place in front of invited guests on Saturday, November 9 and marked a new chapter in the station’s history.

The event wasn’t thwarted by the gales and torrential rain with the ceremony being moved into the boathouse. Invited guests and onlookers crowded into the station and made it a wonderful atmosphere.

Chairman Bob Bulgin summarised the fundraising for the D class lifeboat: “The boat arrived at the station in October 2019, and has been funded through community fundraising. On November 16 2017 an agreement was reached with RNLI HQ that an appeal should be mounted in order to raise funds for the forthcoming replacement lifeboat, the current boat, Copeland Bell D-707 having served on station for over eleven years of operational life during which time many rescues have been recorded. The target of £52,000 was agreed so it was then a question of ‘all hands to the task’.

“Committee and crew put maximum effort into fundraising both by event planning and calling on the support of many established friends of the station. Owing to this support and the generosity shown, both large and small (every penny counts) this target was reached by October 2018 thereby ensuring the replacement boat’s future life at Port Isaac Station. Since this time the appeal has been further extended so as to help fund the further development of associated facilities and now stands at £82,000.”

Damien Bolton, senior helm, opened the ceremony by thanking those who attended. He said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you today in the boathouse for our naming ceremony of the new D class lifeboat. As well as celebrating the naming of the new lifeboat, this event gives us the chance to say a very warm thank you to all the donors who have so generously contributed.”

The service was led by Rev Elizabeth Wild who gave thanks for the lifeboat with the dedication: “We dedicate her to His service and seek protection for the lifeboat and the crews who operate her during their service in the RNLI.”

The lifeboat was then handed over by Cornish bard and member of the community Jon Cleave, to Simon Sharrard, vice president of the RNLI. The boat was accepted onto the station by lifeboat operations manager Chris Bolton.

Tim Hambly, a bard of the Cornish Gorsedh, commended the addition of the Cornish language in the name of the new D class lifeboat. He said: “I think it’s great that Port Isaac RNLI have decided to name the lifeboat in the Cornish language as well as in English. The Cornish language is a very important part of Cornwall’s distinctive Celtic heritage.”

Bob Bulgin, lifeboat station chairman, and Jon Cleave then named the lifeboat Pride of Port Isaac (Goeth Porthusek) D-843.

There were readings from crew and in typical Port Isaac fashion there was plenty of music with the St Minver Silver Band and performances from Port Isaac Chorale; The Gulls and the Fisherman’s Friends bringing the ceremony to a close.

Commodore Jamie Miller gave the vote of thanks to everyone who contributed to the fundraising for the boat and all who made the ceremony such an enjoyable event. Invited guests were then hosted at the Chapel Cafe for some wonderful food and refreshments.