Launch a Memory Lifeboat 13-03

The RNLI came up with an ingenious fundraising idea several years ago called “Launch a Memory”. It is a way for us to remember a loved one or to celebrate someone still with us by making a donation to add their name to a select few Shannon Class lifeboats.

In return for the donation we receive a personalised certificate containing the name of our loved one. We also receive email updates about the progress of the Lifeboat and the opportunity to see the boat up close at the Poole headquarters. This fantastic fundraising scheme raised over £1m on this boat alone.

There are now seven Launch a Memory lifeboats with another on its way. On our travels we have seen five of them. The other two are Eric’s Legend, 13-40 a relief boat and St. Christopher, 13-43 at Clifden in Ireland. The next Launch a Memory Lifeboat will be George Thomas Lacey, 13-13 stationed at Swanage.

Top: 13-03 Exmouth, 13-13 Swanage, 13-46 Wells

Bottom: 13-47 Anstruther, 13-49 Whitby, 13-37 Invergordon

We decided that we would like to add three names to the Exmouth based Shannon, R & J Welburn 13-03 and so we made a donation for each and submitted the names. We have added Allan’s Mum, Helen’s beloved pet Dog and our much loved Cat.

Sheila Margaret Thornhill, passed away suddenly in 2020 she is missed dearly and she would have been so proud of us undertaking this challenge as she enjoyed visiting Lifeboat Stations whenever we were on holiday as a family. Even just a few months before her passing we visited Selsey Lifeboat Station together. It seemed fitting to add her name to this lifeboat.

Dudley Dog was Helen’s beloved pet for most of her childhood. Passing away in 1997 at the age of 13. Dudley had a loving character and was a gentle soul with a shaggy coat. He is fondly remembered by all the family and it was only right that we added his name to the boat.

Little Lord Lucas Cat was our family cat for over 19 years. He was passed on to us as a very young cat by our neighbour who moved away from the area. Lucas was a pedigree British Shorthair and on first look appeared black but was in fact chocolate brown.  In his later years this colouring showed through and despite his little body getting older and older we ensured he had as comfortable a life as we could make it until the end. Ironically, the day we sadly put him to sleep was the day the tickets were available for the Poole Launch a Memory weekend. He is greatly missed.

On a warm weekend in June we travelled to the RNLI College to visit the lifeboat after having its named decals added and before it headed back into service at Exmouth. It was an expertly organised event during which we were introduced to the impressive RNLI College facilities, to the Launch a Memory programme and then to the boat itself. We were allocated 15 minutes time slots to look up close at the boat and find our loved ones names on the decals. The Exmouth boat has 15,045 names on the “RNLI 13-03” numbers and letters on both the port and starboard sides and also on the top of the wheelhouse. To make things easier to find, each Launch a Memory lifeboat comes with a name finder app showing the exact location of the name. A rather nice touch is that all three of our names are located on the starboard “N”

R & J Welburn, 13-03, returned to Exmouth on Monday 14^th July but not without some drama on the way back from Poole. During the sailing she was called to a shout so diverted to that before returning to her home station. The relief Shannon lifeboat that had been stationed at Exmouth during her absence was also a Launch a Memory Lifeboat, Eric’s Legend, 13-40. Visitors to Exmouth on the day of 13-03’s return were treated to a spectacular rare sight of two Shannon’s, both Memory Lifeboats, beaching for recovery. 13-03 is also a rare boat in that it has a white hull instead of the usual blue or black. Only two white hulled Shannon’s are in operation, the other being stationed at Hoylake.

Launch a Memory has been an amazing experience for us, adding our  loved ones names to a lifeboat is something very special. Knowing that they will be at sea each time the pager goes off to save lives is a humbling thought.