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On a sunlit Saturday afternoon, with Fowey Harbour looking at its absolute best, the town gathered on the quay for a moment of great pride and significance. At 3:00pm on 25 July, RNLI B-956 Spirit of Daisy was officially named and dedicated, marking an important moment for the station, the wider RNLI family, and the Fowey community.
There was a strong sense of occasion from the start. The quay was full, and the sight of the RNLI family gathered in uniform crew, shore team, fundraisers, visits team, and shop volunteers made the day feel like a true celebration of everything the station represents. It was a proud public moment, but also one shaped by gratitude, memory, and dedication.
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The ceremony opened promptly with Adam Luck, Chair of the Lifeboat Management Group at Fowey, whose introduction set the tone for the afternoon. Throughout the service, the Lostwithiel Town Band provided music that added depth and emotion to the occasion, creating a moving backdrop that carried across the harbour and helped give the day its special atmosphere.
At the heart of the ceremony was a deeply personal act of generosity. Spirit of Daisy was funded by Alan and Annette Jackson and named in memory of Alan’s late mother. Alan formally handed over the lifeboat, marking a moment that was both symbolic and heartfelt. It was a fitting tribute, not only to a loved one, but to the lifesaving work the boat will now carry out in her name.
Following the handover, Carolyn Greene, the RNLI’s Chief People Officer, formally accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and spoke to the gathered crowd about the wider work of the organisation. She highlighted how RNLI demand has shifted in recent years, noting that 98% of lifeboat responses now happen within 10 nautical miles of the shore. That change underlines the growing importance of agile inshore craft like Fowey’s new B-class lifeboat, which is built for the kind of close-to-shore rescues that are increasingly common. Her remarks also paid tribute to the Fowey lifeboat team, recognising their professionalism and resilience through the recent transition from the Trent class all-weather lifeboat.
She also shared figures that spoke clearly to the value of the station’s work, reinforcing the reality that behind every ceremony is a lifesaving service always ready to respond. But these are not just statistics. They are mothers and fathers, grandparents, work colleagues, young people and friends; people who have gone on to have jobs, families, futures and ordinary days because someone came when they were in danger. It was a reminder that this proud occasion was rooted in something serious and enduring: the commitment to saving lives at sea.
One of the most memorable moments came when Sara Evans, a lifeboat shop volunteer, read an extract from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows: “…til at last I reach the little grey sea town I know so well, that clings along one steep side of the harbour”. Grahame had close links with Fowey, and many people believe this passage describes the town, so it was a very fitting reading for a service held beside the harbour.
Paul Gamble, Lifeboat Operations Manager, formally accepted Spirit of Daisy on behalf of Fowey Lifeboat Station, marking the moment when the lifeboat moved from ceremony into service. Rev’d Shona Hoad led the service of dedication, which included the Lifeboat Prayer, bringing a sense of reflection and purpose to proceedings.
The naming followed, with Alana and Annette Jackson invited to formally name the boat. As Spirit of Daisy was announced, it was a moment that brought the ceremony to its emotional peak. It was a name given with love, and one that will now travel with the lifeboat wherever she is called to serve.
To close the event, Amelia Lick and Ross Jezard delivered a vote of thanks, recognising everyone who had contributed to the day and acknowledging the generosity, teamwork, and community spirit that made it so meaningful. Their words reflected the feeling shared by many on the quay: that this was a moment of genuine pride for Fowey. After the ceremony, refreshments generously supplied by the King of Prussia gave guests a further chance to gather, talk, and reflect on the occasion.
The ceremony concluded with a short demonstration in the harbour, giving those gathered the chance to see Spirit of Daisy in action. Against the backdrop of a brilliant summer afternoon, and with the cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II adding an elegant presence in the harbour, the whole scene felt unmistakably Fowey: beautiful, welcoming, and deeply connected to the sea.
More than just the arrival of a new lifeboat, the day marked a proud chapter in the town’s story. The Spirit of Daisy now takes its place in Fowey as a symbol of generosity, remembrance, and lifesaving purpose.
Those who feel able to do so are warmly encouraged to support the RNLI, whose volunteers and crews continue to save lives at sea through the generosity of donations and public goodwill.