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england/england/littlehampton/”>littlehampton/”>Littlehampton RNLI has officially launched its latest lifeboat—the nimble and reliable Spirit of Fidelity—at a stirring ceremony on Saturday 27 September.
D-Class “Workhorse” Already Proving Its Worth
The new D-Class lifeboat, officially known as D-902, has been on active service 20 times since arriving in May. These lifeboats are the backbone of RNLI rescue operations, famed for their agility and ability to navigate surf, shallow waters, and tight spots close to shore/”>shore.
Family Legacy Fuels Lifeboat Naming
The vessel was generously funded and named by donors Michael and Alison Veale, whose family has backed the RNLI for Overover 65 years. Michael Veale spoke emotionally at the event:
“Our gift of D-902, with its name Spirit of Fidelity, honours my father’s memory and is the natural extension of my family’s involvement with the RNLI. Needless to say, the naming ceremony has been an amazing and very emotional event for us, given the memories it generates.”
A Community Celebration with Proud Officials
In a touching RNLI tradition, the Veales handed over the lifeboat to RNLI Trustee Andrew Jordan, who passed it to Nick White, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Littlehampton. The dedication service, led by shore Crewcrew and chaplain Mike Meachin, ended with the classic champagne christening.
