RNLI bids farewell to lifeboat after 23 years

RNLI volunteers in Cornwall are preparing to say farewell to one of their lifeboats after 23 years of service.

Falmouth RNLI said the Severn class lifeboat 17-29 RNLB Richard Cox Scott had reached the end of its operational life.

The lifeboat will be withdrawn from service at the end of January and will be replaced by a "state-of-the-art" Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.

The RNLI said in its 23 years of service the vessel had launched on service more than 500 times and at least 12 lives had been saved.

Falmouth RNLI coxswain Jonathon Blakeston, who has also been the station's full-time mechanic since 2013, said it was a "fabulous lifeboat" and the crew would "miss her".

He said: "Before she leaves, we are hoping to have a get-together for ex-crew members that served on her so that they can also say goodbye.

"The day that Richard Cox Scott leaves her berth at the station for the final time will be tinged with sadness but time and technology move on and we must prepare for the next chapter of Falmouth Lifeboat Station.

"We look forward to receiving our own Shannon class lifeboat later in 2025 but in the meantime our volunteer crew members are continuing their training with the aim of placing the relief Shannon class lifeboat George and Frances Phelon on service as our temporary station all-weather lifeboat early in the new year."

The lifeboat station said it was honoured when, on 1 May 2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, named Richard Cox Scott at the start of her Golden Jubilee.

It said it was only the fourth time a reigning monarch had named a lifeboat.

After the tour, the royal party went on board Richard Cox Scott and were taken on a tour of the harbour.

As part of the farewell, station volunteers will offer members of the public a free guided tour in January before she retires and departs the station.

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