Castletownbere Severn class lifeboat named today Saturday 9 October

This Severn class lifeboat RNLB Annette Hutton was funded through the generous bequest from Ms Annette Hutton of Hutton Coach Works, Summerhill, Dublin .  Mr Richard Lovegrove, Executor to Annette Hutton’s estate delivered the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI on behalf of the late Annette Amanda Marguerite Hutton.

Mr Lovegrove, honoured to represent Annette Hutton, described this remarkable lady:

‘Annette Hutton was a real Dublin northsider and immensely proud of her roots in Mountjoy Square , adjacent to her family’s famous Hutton Coach Works in Summerhill.  They were builders of the Irish State Coach and the State Landau still used on state occasions by the Royal Family.

She moved south of The Liffey aged 12 and over many years devoted much of her time to charities and good works – both her mother and herself organised the linen guild to raise money for St. Patrick’s Hospital and she collected rents for the Alexandra Guild.

It was whilst she spent her declining years in Newtown Park House that she became aware of the work of the lifeboat service through conversations with her good friend Kristin Thomas and so she decided to leave a legacy to the RNLI.   

Annette Hutton gave so much to life and to other people during her lifetime, it was natural that her legacy would continue to help others.   It is entirely appropriate that she will be remembered in this way and particularly by the lifeboat crews who give so much to their local communities and who are willing to risk their own lives in the service of others.’

Brian O’Driscoll, coxswain, says of the new lifeboat: ‘We are delighted with our new lifeboat.  At 25 knots the Severn class has a definite speed advantage over the 18 knot Arun and will improve our response time to all emergencies. In the short seven year period since we were established, Castletownbere has proved to be a busy station responding to over 120 emergencies”.

The RNLI is a charity which relies on voluntary donations and legacies, such as these, to continue its vital role in saving lives at sea. Currently 60% of the RNLI’s income is received through legacies.

Ends

For more information please contact:

Mary Newman, RNLI national organiser Mobile 087 2208 505

Paul Stevens, Castletownbere Lifeboat Station press officer  Mobile  086 6015110

Order of Service

1.                  The Naming Ceremony opened with the National Anthem and welcoming remarks from John Nolan, Castletownbere lifeboat station chairman.

2.                  The Severn class Lifeboat was delivered into the care of the RNLI by Mr Richard Lovegrove, Executor of Annette Hutton’s estate and delivered to Castletownbere Lifeboat Station by Mr Terence Johnson, RNLI Deputy Chairman.

3.                  Tony O’Sullivan, lifeboat operations manager, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of Castletownbere Lifeboat Station.

4.                  Lifeboat Chaplain Fr Sean O’Shea and Reverend Paul Willoughby conducted the Service of Dedication and Blessing assisted by Castletownbere Choir. 

5.                  Donal O’Driscoll, fundraising branch chairman proposed the Vote of Thanks.

6.                  Mrs Kristin Thomas, close friend of Annette Hutton, named the new lifeboat RNLB Annette Hutton.

7.                  Presentations were made to Mrs Kristin Thomas, Mr Richard Lovegrove and Mr Colin Williams, Inspector of Lifeboats for Ireland . The Coxswain’s daughter Ciara O’Driscoll presented flowers to Mrs Thomas.

8.                  Brian O’Driscoll, coxswain and crew Brendan Gonnelly, Michael Martin-Sullivan, Paul Stevens, Marney O’Donoghue, & Paddy O’Conor  put to sea.

9.                  The new Severn class lifeboat was built in Lymington in Southern England at a cost of €3 m . She carries a crew of six and has a top speed of 25 knots.