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The new 'top of the range' Penlee lifeboat, the 'Ivan Ellen' will be officially
named at a ceremony in Newlyn on Tuesday. 'Ivan Ellen' is a £2 million
Severn-class lifeboat, 17 metres long whose 2,500 horsepower engines deliver
a top speed of 26 knots.
She has been on station at Penlee since March 2003, when she replaced
the Arun-class 'Mabel Alice.'
The naming ceremony will take place on the fish quay at Newlyn at 5.30
pm.
The 'Ivan Ellen' will be handed over by John Leech and named by his sister,
Lorna Leech in memory of their parents, Ivan and Ellen Leech who were
the lifeboat's principal donors.
'Ivan Ellen' will be handed over to Air Vice Marshall John Tetley, who
will accept her on behalf of the RNLI. He will in turn hand her over to
the honorary secretary of the Penlee branch, Newlyn harbourmaster, Andrew
Munson.
John Leech has a personal connection with Penlee, having served as emergency
mechanic with an RNLI relief crew sent to Penlee to run the station in
the immediate aftermath of the loss of the 'Solomon Browne' in December
1981.
There will be a brief service of dedication conducted by the joint branch
chaplain, Rev Julyan Drew and Rev Gordon Hansford, together with the chaplain
of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, Supt Keith Dickson.
Music will be provided by the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band.
There are a number of invited guests but 'one and all' are welcome to
attend the ceremony. Car parking will be provided on Newlyn Green and
light refreshments will be served after the formalities.
This is a special occasion for RNLI Penlee, indeed an unusual event in
the history of the RNLI since Penlee has had two naming ceremonies in
the course of a single year, the first being the naming of the inshore
Atlantic 75 'Paul Alexander' in May.
"We are proud and grateful to receive the 'Ivan Ellen' - a magnificent
vessel and look forward to many years' service with her," a spokesman
told The Cornishman.
Coxswain, Neil Brockman said: "It's the best present we could have
had - the whole of the crew are absolutely over the moon. Not only are
we getting a brand new boat, but a lot of work has been done on our pontoons
and berthing facilities which have brought the station right up to date
and beyond."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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