RNLI NEWS RELEASE

 Date:   24/02/2009  

Photo by Andrew Filipinski

New lifeboat means a new ally to help Hayling Island RNLI save lives at sea

The latest ally in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s quest to save lives at sea arrived at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station this week, in the form of a brand new inshore lifeboat. 

The volunteer crew at the station welcomed the replacement Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to their station on Tuesday (February 24^th), for a training period before she is officially placed on operational service later this week. However, soon after her first launch on Tuesday the new lifeboat was on service, tasked by Solent Coastguard to standby a yacht that had broken down off Selsey, which eventually made its own way into Chichester Harbour.

Foremost in the thoughts of the crew as they take to the seas in their new vessel will be the family who have shown tremendous commitment to the RNLI – the Battle family, who have the rare pedigree of funding three lifeboats at the station. 

The £160,000 lifeboat, named Derrick Battle, will replace the station’s current Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat, Betty Battle, which was named after the donor. 

Nigel Roper, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, said: ‘The Betty Battle has been on service here since June 1995 and is approaching the end of its RNLI life. It will now be sold off to Dorset Police, who will use the boat as part of its police presence during the 2012 Olympics. 

‘This brings the number of lifeboats Betty Battle has funded to three – a rare occurrence within the RNLI in the south east. In addition to the outgoing Atlantic 75 and the new Atlantic 85 lifeboats, Betty also funded the D-class lifeboat at the station. This was purchased in 2005 and was named Amanda, James and Ben after her grandchildren. 

Nigel continued: ‘Betty Battle sadly died in October 2006, but she will be remembered forever by us all at Hayling Island RNLI. Her kindness has enabled our volunteer lifeboat crew members to take to the seas to attend rescue callouts in three different lifeboats – it seems there were no limits to her generosity and support for the RNLI.’ 

Betty funded the first lifeboat, Betty Battle, in 1995. Betty was a past chairman of the RNLI Ashstead branch and a consistent supporter of the RNLI. The D-class was funded after husband Derrick had passed away and before Betty died in October 2006 she had already funded this latest lifeboat at the station. 

The new Atlantic 85 lifeboat, which is faster and more capable than the Atlantic 75,  will be officially named, blessed and placed on service at a special dual ceremony on Saturday 25^th April in which the recently rebuilt boathouse will also be officially dedicated. Derrick and Betty’s two children, Jonathan Battle and Sally Chitty, will be present at the naming ceremony along with their grandchildren.