New era for Bangor RNLI as it marks 60 years
A NEW inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat for Bangor RNLI is to be officially named Ruby Robinson during a ceremony at the lifeboat station on Saturday.
The naming ceremony and service of dedication coincides with Bangor RNLI’s 60th anniversary.
The lifeboat, which went on service in June last year, was funded by a legacy from Dennis Filby from Norfolk in England.
The youngest in a family of six, Mr Filby was known as an unassuming man who loved country life. He worked for Ruby Robinson and her husband on their farm in Hingham, Norfolk and Mrs Robinson invited Dennis to become farm manager after Mr Robinson died.
This was on a smaller farm in Hilborough, Norfolk, which he ran until he died in 2019. It was his wish to leave the majority of his estate to fund a lifeboat to be named Ruby Robinson in her memory.
Some of Mr Filby’s family members will be attending the naming ceremony to see his legacy.
The Ruby Robinson replaced the Jessie Hillyard, which had been used to save lives at sea by the shores of Belfast Lough for almost 18 years.
Since its arrival last year, the new lifeboat has launched 33 times with the volunteer crew coming to the aid of 25 people, one of whom was a life saved.
The Atlantic 85 design allows room for four crew members. It is powered by two 115 horse power engines and has a strong hull and top speed of 35 knots. The radar allows the crew to operate effectively in poor visibility and there is also VHF direction-finding equipment.
The vessel has a manually operated self-righting mechanism which combined with inversion-proofed engines keeps the lifeboat operational even after capsize.
The lifeboat can also be beached in an emergency without causing damage to its engines or steering gear.
The Atlantic 85 which was introduced to the RNLI fleet in 2005 also carries a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids, as well as a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares for night-time operations.
Speaking ahead of next week’s naming ceremony, Captain Byron Griffiths, Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: “This is a special weekend for our lifeboat volunteers, our families and all our supporters as we prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of the station and as we name our wonderful new lifeboat in memory of Ruby Robinson, remembering the generosity of the late Dennis Filby.
“We are proud custodians of this lifeboat, which will go on to rescue and save many lives in the years ahead,” he added.
Bangor RNLI was established in May 1965 and since then has been served by three different classes of lifeboat. A D-class lifeboat was placed on service first, followed by an Atlantic 21 class lifeboat in 1988 ahead of the latest class, the Atlantic 85 arriving in 2006.
