Photograph Opportunity – 11:00hrs – 12:00hrs Saturday 1st March at Sunderland Lifeboat Station, Roker Marina, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 0PW.
Sunderland RNLI lifeboat moves into new home
Sunderland lifeboat volunteers and their Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Wolseley, have this week moved into a new base which was paid for by a generous legacy from a South Shields woman.
The former Northumbria Police Marine Unit station, adjacent to the RNLI’s current base in Sunderland Marina, has been extended and refurbished to enable the 8.3m inshore lifeboat to be kept inside. In the past, the vessel has been kept afloat on a specially-designed floating “hydro-hoist” platform on the opposite side of the marina.
The entire cost of the £250,000 project has been paid for by a legacy left to the RNLI by the late Mrs Isabella Fisher Hancock White.
Overall, the construction project took around three months to complete and involved the installation of a lifting davit and tracks from the building to the quayside which will be used to launch the lifeboat. A rear extension has been built and electrically operated roller shutter doors installed.
Captain Peter Mitchell, Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Once the building work was complete it was necessary for the twenty operational volunteers at the station to undergo a formal training programme which will allow them to safely launch the lifeboat using the new equipment.
‘This new facility will provide us with a much better environment for the lifeboat and means essential maintenance work can be carried out in dry, safe conditions. We will also be able to open the station to the general public which will give them the chance to take a close look at the lifeboat and its equipment.’
Mrs White, known as Ella, lived in South Shields with her late husband, Charles, who worked at sea as an engineer and a marine surveyor before working for Lloyds Registry of Shipping in his latter years. Prior to her death a couple of years ago, aged 96, Mrs White decided to leave most of her estate – almost £420,000 - to the RNLI for use specifically in the area close to South Shields.
Chris Potts, a family friend and executor of Mrs White's will, said: ‘Ella was a lovely lady who, because of her husband's career had a real affinity with the sea and valued the work of the RNLI. She was a loyal supporter of the charity and had connections with the South Shields Branch, and specified that the money she left should be used to help the RNLI's lifesaving work in this area.
‘I am sure she would be delighted that her legacy has provided the RNLI with something so significant that will benefit sea users in the North East for many years to come. It is a very fitting memorial for both Ella and Charles.’
The remainder of Mrs White’s donation will be split between Sunderland and Tynemouth Lifeboat Stations and will contribute towards the two stations’ general running costs.
Over the next 12 months it is anticipated that administration and crew changing facilities will be transferred from the existing RNLI building within in the marina. The Lifeboat Station which houses the smaller D Class inshore lifeboat and the Souvenir Shop on Marine Walk will continue to operate as normal.
Paul Nicholson, Sunderland RNLI Senior Helmsman, said: ‘As a charity which relies 100% on voluntary contributions for income, we are very grateful to people like the late Mrs White for leaving donations to the RNLI in their wills.’
Legacy donations make six out of every ten lifeboat launches possible and the RNLI is very pleased to receive this generous gift.
Information about how to leave a gift to the RNLI in your will can be found at http://www.rnli.org.uk/how_to_support_us/give_money/ or by contacting the RNLI’s Legacy Enquiries Office on 01202 663032.
Sunderland RNLI lifeboat moves into new home
Sunderland lifeboat volunteers and their Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Wolseley, have this week moved into a new base which was paid for by a generous legacy from a South Shields woman.
The former Northumbria Police Marine Unit station, adjacent to the RNLI’s current base in Sunderland Marina, has been extended and refurbished to enable the 8.3m inshore lifeboat to be kept inside. In the past, the vessel has been kept afloat on a specially-designed floating “hydro-hoist” platform on the opposite side of the marina.
The entire cost of the £250,000 project has been paid for by a legacy left to the RNLI by the late Mrs Isabella Fisher Hancock White.
Overall, the construction project took around three months to complete and involved the installation of a lifting davit and tracks from the building to the quayside which will be used to launch the lifeboat. A rear extension has been built and electrically operated roller shutter doors installed.
Captain Peter Mitchell, Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Once the building work was complete it was necessary for the twenty operational volunteers at the station to undergo a formal training programme which will allow them to safely launch the lifeboat using the new equipment.
‘This new facility will provide us with a much better environment for the lifeboat and means essential maintenance work can be carried out in dry, safe conditions. We will also be able to open the station to the general public which will give them the chance to take a close look at the lifeboat and its equipment.’
Mrs White, known as Ella, lived in South Shields with her late husband, Charles, who worked at sea as an engineer and a marine surveyor before working for Lloyds Registry of Shipping in his latter years. Prior to her death a couple of years ago, aged 96, Mrs White decided to leave most of her estate – almost £420,000 - to the RNLI for use specifically in the area close to South Shields.
Chris Potts, a family friend and executor of Mrs White's will, said: ‘Ella was a lovely lady who, because of her husband's career had a real affinity with the sea and valued the work of the RNLI. She was a loyal supporter of the charity and had connections with the South Shields Branch, and specified that the money she left should be used to help the RNLI's lifesaving work in this area.
‘I am sure she would be delighted that her legacy has provided the RNLI with something so significant that will benefit sea users in the North East for many years to come. It is a very fitting memorial for both Ella and Charles.’
The remainder of Mrs White’s donation will be split between Sunderland and Tynemouth Lifeboat Stations and will contribute towards the two stations’ general running costs.
Over the next 12 months it is anticipated that administration and crew changing facilities will be transferred from the existing RNLI building within in the marina. The Lifeboat Station which houses the smaller D Class inshore lifeboat and the Souvenir Shop on Marine Walk will continue to operate as normal.
Paul Nicholson, Sunderland RNLI Senior Helmsman, said: ‘As a charity which relies 100% on voluntary contributions for income, we are very grateful to people like the late Mrs White for leaving donations to the RNLI in their wills.’
Legacy donations make six out of every ten lifeboat launches possible and the RNLI is very pleased to receive this generous gift.
Information about how to leave a gift to the RNLI in your will can be found at http://www.rnli.org.uk/how_to_support_us/give_money/ or by contacting the RNLI’s Legacy Enquiries Office on 01202 663032.
