New lifeboat ready to start work

WESTON-SUPER-MARE RNLI has taken delivery of a new lifeboat to continue its work saving lives at sea.

The new lifeboat will replace the class D lifeboat the Anna Stock - pic

tured right - which has been serving the lifesaving charity for the last 10 years.

The Anna Stock was named after Colonel Stock whose widow left money in trust for the RNLI. It as the second lifeboat paid for from the funds, with the first being called Colonel Stock which served the town from 1903 to 1933.

The class D lifeboat has been used by the RNLI by more than 50 years and has a top speed of 25 knots and is able to endure three hours at sea at this speed on search and rescue missions.

The Anna Stock was built at the RNLI inshore lifeboat centre in Cowes and during her time in Weston has been launched 400 times, rescuing 96 people and saving 22 lives.

As well as the service launches she was launched for training nearly every Wednesday evening and Sunday morning.

However after many years of service she has now been taken back to Cowes for her retirement.

The new boat is called the Adrian Beaumont.

Weston RNLI operations manager Mike Buckland said: “She has looked after us well over the years and many people are alive thanks to her.

“The new lifeboat will start work immediately and I am sure will give us equally good service.”