New Wells ILB 'Peter Wilcox' is named in style

Sun 9 October 2016

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A service of dedication and official naming ceremony for the station's new inshore lifeboat was held today at the boathouse.

More than 200 guests and supporters of the RNLI took part in the ceremony. D-797 Peter Wilcox is the 12th D-class inshore boat to be stationed at Wells since this type of lifeboat was first introduced in the early 1960s.

The boat is named after the late Peter Wilcox, whose widow Jayne officially named her by pouring champagne over the bows.

Peter Wilcox, from Windsor in Surrey, was a keen supporter of the RNLI all his life. In his later years, he fell in love with North Norfolk and bought a holiday home in nearby Weybourne. Having supported many charities throughout his life, his ambition though was to sponsor a lifeboat. Friend, Robert Holland, who gave a reading called 'It's a Shout', said how he'd once been summoned by Peter to be told that they were going to sponsor a lifeboat. That wish came true after he had died, when, with the support of family and friends, he was chosen to sponsor the new lifeboat for Wells.

RNLI Council member, William Everard, accepted the lifeboat from Jayne Wilcox and then handed it into the care of Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Hardy, and Wells Lifeboat Station. Lifeboat Chaplain, Rev Neil Woodruff led the service of dedication.

The ceremony also had its light-hearted moments, with Fakenham Town Band playing 'Satisfaction' and 'Goodbye Ruby Tuesday', as Peter was a Stones fan. The Blakeney Old Wild Rovers and audience also sang 'Home From the Sea'.

At the end of proceedings, Lord Leicester, who is President of Wells Lifeboat, gave a vote of thanks. After being named, the lifeboat was launched and the crew showed her paces around the outer harbour. Guests were then treated to an extensive buffet and further entertainment from the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers.

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