31/08/2014. FREE TO USE IMAGE. RNLI Naming Cermony. Pictured at Helvick Head, Co Waterford where Helvick Head RNLI name new lifeboat in memory of Robert Armstrong. Pictured is James Lait from Dungarvan and Oisin O"Raghallaigh from Helvic trying on RNLI helmets. Picture: Patrick Browne

31 August 2014

Helvick Head RNLI name new lifeboat in memory of Robert Armstrong

Helvick Head RNLI officially named their new Atlantic 85 lifeboat B874 Robert Armstrong on Saturday (30 August 2014) during a ceremony held on the pier outside the lifeboat station. The lifeboat was funded by the late Robert Armstrong and named in his memory. Members of Mr Armstrong’s extended family and friends travelled from the UK to the Waterford lifeboat station for the occasion, including his cousin Mrs Judi Fleming, who had the honour of naming the new lifeboat.

Robert Armstrong was born on 31 August 1936 and spent his early years in South London, Bexleyheath and Orpington but his main home was Blackheath. He loved sailing and crewed in the English Channel and the North Sea. Robert had a holiday home on the Norfolk Broads where he moored his own boat and pursued his love of boats and fishing. He had also attended a previous naming ceremony in Helvick Head back in 2000, for a lifeboat which was named in memory of his aunt and uncle, Alice and Charles Armstrong. He died on 9 November 2009 and the new lifeboat in Helvick is now being named in his memory, almost five years later.

The RNLI has a long history in the Dungarvan area. The charity established a lifeboat station there in 1859 and operated an all-weather lifeboat for 110 years before closing in 1969. After a gap of 27 years, the station reopened in 1996 and today operates an inshore lifeboat. In that time volunteer lifeboat crew have launched 252 times and brought 356 people to safety.

The new lifeboat is an Atlantic 85, an upgrade on the station’s previous lifeboat, an Atlantic 75. Measuring 8.5 metres in length the lifeboat is operational up to force seven and allows room for four lifeboat crew. Capable of a top speed of 35 knots the lifeboat has radar which allows the lifeboat crew to operate more effectively in poor visibility and to locate vessels faster. It also has a manually operated self-righting system and two engines. It comes at a cost of €255,000.

The short ceremony also included a moving rendition of Phil Coulter’s lifeboat anthem ‘Home from the Sea’, sung by Dónal Clancy. The song had been sung by his father, the late Liam Clancy, when Robert Armstrong attended the naming ceremony of the Alice and Charles lifeboat back in 2000.

Helvick Head RNLI Fundraising Chairman Oliver Clancy opened the proceedings and RNLI Council Member Peter Crowley accepted the lifeboat into the care of the Institution from Mrs Fleming before passing it over to Helvick Head RNLI. RNLI Divisional Operations Manager Ronan Boyle spoke on the capabilities of the lifeboat to the assembled crowd. Joinig local people, volunteer lifeboat crew from Ballycotton, Youghal, Dunmore East, Rosslare and Kilmore Quay also attended to wish their Helvick Head colleagues well with their new lifeboat, as well as station management, fundraisers, supporters and staff from the RNLI.

Helvick Head RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Walsh said, “It is a great honour to receive an RNLI lifeboat and this new Atlantic 85 is a welcome addition to lifesaving on the Waterford coast. We have looked forward to this event for some time and today we are very grateful to the generosity of the late Robert Armstrong. We will ensure that the lifeboat is well taken care of and can assure Mr Armstrong’s family who have joined us for this special ceremony, that it will be kept well maintained and ready for service. We look forward to many successful launches in the years to come.”

Mrs Judi Fleming, Robert Armstrong’s cousin, who had the honour of naming the lifeboat added, ‘I am very proud of Bob and what we are doing here on this beautiful part of the Irish coastline. The sea was very important to him and he spent many happy hours sailing and fishing. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to my cousin than a lifeboat being named in his honour. May her lifeboat crew always come home safely.

The lifeboat was named by Mrs Judi Fleming with the traditional bottle of champagne poured over the side of the boat. It was then launched with its first task being to drop a wreath in the sea outside Helvick Harbour in front of the assembled crowds, in memory of both the late Robert Armstrong and those who have been lost at sea.

A few hours later and in view of Mr Armstrong’s family and friends, the lifeboat was launched on its first service to reports of a man in the water at Abbeyside in Dungarvan. The Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 was also launched but both were stood down after the man was helped ashore by Gardaí.

Ends

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk or Dónal Ó Faolain Helvick RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Tel: 087 127 7881 email: donalofaolain@eircom.net or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 087 6483547 Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk


RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.ie News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org/press<http://www.rnli.org/press>;

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations with 43 in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of the Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland and registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736)


Niamh Stephenson
RNLI Public Relations Manager – Ireland
Telephone: 00 353 1 8900 460 (w) / 00 353 87 1254 124 (m)
@Niamh_St
RNLI.org @RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
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