Station welcomes new inshore lifeboat D-797 'Peter Wilcox'

Tue 12 Jul 2016

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A brand new inshore lifeboat D-797 Peter Wilcox was delivered by the RNLI and placed on service at Wells today. The IB1 D-Class lifeboat was generously donated in memory of Peter by Jayne Wilcox and his family and friends.

Jayne came to Wells to welcome the new boat and joined in helping crew members change the boats over and prepare the new boat for use. Once set up, D-797 was launched and given a brief test run around the harbour to ensure all was well before being washed down, rehoused and officially placed on service as the station's new inshore lifeboat.

Peter Wilcox is the 12th D-class inshore boat to be stationed at Wells since this type of boat was first introduced in the early 1960s and replaces the previous D-661 Jane Ann III which left the station to return to the RNLI, where she will likely serve in the relief or training fleet. D-661 was on station for almost 10 years, launching on service 223 times and was the third boat in sequence to carry the Jane Ann name, covering a period of 28 years.

A formal naming ceremony and welcome for the new lifeboat will take place later in the year.

pics: FW and MP

D-661 Jane Ann III leaves the station after 10 years service

Unloading the new inshore lifeboat on the beach road

Our new inshore lifeboat D-797 named in memory of Peter Wilcox

Benefactor Jayne Wilcox does the honours with the new lifeboat

After setting up, the new boat is launched for a brief test run

D-797 on the water at Wells for the first time

Helmsmen Martin Emerson, Mark Frary and Ross Fulford with Jayne Wilcox and our new lifeboat 'Peter Wilcox'

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