The Princess Royal opens new lifeboat station in Dartmouth
Princess Anne met with volunteers and unveiled a plaque at the station
Last updated 12 hours ago
The Princess Royal has been in Dartmouth today (16th April) and has officially opened a new lifeboat station.
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne was joined by Vice President of the RNLI Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and unveiled a plaque at the newly renovated Dart lifeboat station.
The new station returns the RNLI to Ferry View House, where the original lifeboat station stood in the 1800s.
The upgraded facility now houses a purpose-built boat hall for the station’s D class lifeboat, alongside dedicated changing areas, training spaces, offices, and welfare facilities.
During the ceremony, The Princess Royal was escorted into the new facilities, meeting volunteers and receiving introductions to various team members by the Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon.
Commodore Jake Moores OBE, Chair of the Lifeboat Management Group at Dart Lifeboat Station, said:
"It was a great privilege to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Dart RNLI today to officially open our new lifeboat station and return the RNLI in Dartmouth to its original home, which it occupied until the end of the 19th century."
"Our temporary lifeboat station on Coronation Park, which has housed our D class lifeboat since 2007, will now be run by the Dartmouth Youth Group for the benefit of the community."
Her Royal Highness later met contributors to the renovation project, fundraising volunteers, and RNLI lifeguards from nearby South Hams beaches.
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence presented a 20-year long service award to volunteer helm Rich Eggleton inside the boat hall.
Rich said: "It’s such an honour to be part of the Dart RNLI team and it was a very proud moment for me and my family. I have loved being a volunteer from the outset. A special day for all of us and an amazing new station."
The Princess Royal also met those who had contributed to the renovation project, as well as fundraising volunteers and volunteers from the nearby RNLI visitor centre and the station support team.
The former temporary lifeboat station at Coronation Park will now be operated by the Dartmouth Youth Group for community benefit.