1
January 2022 Portavogie Charity
Dip |
1
January 2022 Ross Memorial
Fishing Cup won by Crew Member |
30
December 2021 Portavogie Christmas
Lights raise £683.72 |
20
November 2021 Ross Jord Fishery
raises £500 for the RNLI |
8
October 2021 Fisherman's Cup
raises £530 for RNLI |
11
Sept 2021 Lifeboat Crew support
Portavogie Tide & Turf Festival |
30
August 2021 Safety Cover and
East Down Yacht Club Treasure Hunt
|
14
June 2021 Water Safety advice
helped save lives |
28
July 2020 Ballywalter
Young Farmers raise £4,398.54 for the
RNLI |
13
February 2020 St Joseph's Primary
School visit the station |
29
January 2020 'Cuan Kids' play
group visit the station |
2
December 2019 New crew
opportunities |
15
Nov 2019 Ballywalter
Young Farmers and Kircubbin Integrated PS |
4
October 2019 Portaferry RNLI
celebrates 40 years of life-saving |
17
Sept 2019 Photographer Jack
Lowe visits the Station |
28
July 2019 Portaferry
Crew assist RNLI 'Respect the Water' message |
26
July 2019 Killyleagh
Yacht Club raises £1,200 for the RNLI |
20
July 2019 Portrush
Football Club win the RNLI Fishermans Cup |
11
May 2019 Community Safety
Team attends Quoile Yacht Club's
RNLI Lifeboat Race event
|
10
May 2019 Community
Safety Team assist Donaghadee RNLI 'Sporting
Challenge' |
6
March 2019 1st Ards Scout
group & Cuan Pre School visit the Station |
17
January 2019 St
Joseph's School visited the station |
4
December 2018 1st
Kircubbin Scouts visit the Lifeboat |
3
November 2018 Four long-serving
volunteers retire |
1
November 2018 Portaferry
RNLI seeks to appoint Community Safety Advisors
& Station Visits Volunteers |
12
Sept 2018 James & Belinda
Richardson & Portavogie Youth 11's football
team visit station |
15
August 2018 Kirkistown Castle
GC RNLI Golf Day raises over £1,600 |
16
May 2018 Station
seeks to appoint 'Lifeboat Visits Volunteers' |
28
January 2018 -
65th anniversary of the sinking of the Princess
Victoria |
8
January 2018
- Mary Hickey, 65 year old 'RNLI Lap of the
Map' runner visits Portaferry Station |
1
January 2018 -
Simon Rogers appointed as new Lifeboat Operations
Manager |
11
November 2017 -
Vacancy - Post of Lifeboat Operations Manager |
21
September 2017 - Portavogie Rangers
Football Club support the RNLI Respect the
Water campaign |
10
April 2017 - Paintings by Duxy
Leahy in memory of the crew of Helicopter
Rescue 116 |
1
April 2017 - RNLI Lifeboat 'Voluntary
Worker' retires |
13
November 2016 - Pat Browne represents
fundraisers at London's Cenotaph on Remembrance
Sunday |
January
2016 - Tyne
class 'Voluntary Worker' is still saving lives |
9
November 2015 -
Margaret Barbour retires |
13
September 2015 - Down Cruising
Club presents cheque for £500 |
25
June 2015 - Awards for Mike Miall,
Vera Murphy & Susan Brewster |
23
April 2015 - Bernadette Rogers
retires as Hon Secretary of Guild |
16
April 2015 - Comber Rifle Club
present cheque to the RNLI |
21
March 2015 - Photos of the Portaferry
RNLI 35th Anniversary Ball |
30
January 2015 - Eveleigh Brownlow
invested with MBE |
1
November 2014 - Eddie and Marie
McGee's years of service recognised |
13
June 2014 - Eveleigh Brownlow awarded
the MBE |
22
May 2014 - Leonard Lawson DLA receives
Gold Medal at UK Awards |
22
May 2014 - RNLI London Awards highlights
Northern Ireland rescue |
1
February 2014 -
Isabel Hood appointed LMG Chairman |
6
January 2014 - Tidal surge less
than predicted |
30
September 2013 - Former shore crew
member now a 2nd Coxswain |
27
September 2013 - Fisherman meets
his rescuers |
7
August 2013 - Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club raises £2,865 for the RNLI |
3
August 2013 - Six RNLI lifeboats
in joint exercise on the Irish Sea |
12
July 2013 - Mongol Rally raises
funds for Portaferry RNLI |
12
June 2013 - Ann Miall receives
a Certificate of Thanks |
7
March 2013 - Paul Boissier, RNLI
Chief Executive, visits Portaferry RNLI |
29
December 2012 - Queen's Diamond
Jubilee Medals presented |
12
September 2012 - 'Chill at the
Mill' raises £1,640.60 for the RNLI
|
8
August 2012 - RNLI Golf Day at
KCGC raises £3,342 |
June
2012 - Passover Dinner and Lenten
Appeal raises £2,000 |
June
2012 - Orange Order funds lifejackets |
24
May 2012 - Dr Daryl Birkett
receives the RNLI's thanks |
13
April 2012 - The historic 'Herbert
John' is launched again |
4
December 2011 -
Crew Members receive 'Certificates of Service'
|
10
August 2011 - Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club - Lifeboat Day results |
23
June 2011 -
Margaret Barbour receives a Certificate of
Thanks |
9
April 2011 -
Churches and Sunday Schools visit Portaferry
RNLI |
1
January 2011
- Sammy Gordon appointed as DLA |
17
December 2010 - Gabriel Rogers
retires |
11
August 2010 - Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club |
26
June 2010 -
Billy Ellison receives Statuette and Certificate
of Service |
5
June 2010 - New
Boathouse opening & 'Blue Peter V' Naming
Ceremony |
1
June 2010 - Portaferry RNLI Boathouse
Appeal |
31
May 2009 -
Joan Peacock, Jean Keenan & Mike Miall
receive awards |
27
May 2010 - Pat Browne receives
RNLI Gold Badge |
2
April 2009 - Interview with Leonard
Lawson DLA |
18
August 2008 - Young Farmers raise
£2,500 for new Boathouse |
May
2008 - Dr David Peacock awarded
a RNLI Gold Medal |
January
2008 - Coast Review Committee visits
Portaferry |
9 June 2007
-
Tommy Mason and Anne
Marie Mahon abseil
down BT Tower and raise £500 |
1 January 2007
- Awards for
Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow and Mr John Murray |
23
November 2006 -
Simon Rogers awarded the RNLI's 'Thanks of
the Institution on Vellum' for his role in
the saving one person and the search for missing
crew of the fishing vessel Greenhill |
November
2004 - Portaferry
RNLI 25th Anniversary Ball |
15 November 2006 -
Admiral Sir Jock Slater visits Poratferry
Lifeboat |
June 2004
- BBC Bargain Hunt comes to Portaferry
|
1 November 2006
- John Murray
& Dessie Rogers awarded 'Blue Peter Gold
Badge'
|
May 2004
- Peter Nicholson CBE (Chairman RNLI) and
his wife (Lesley-Jane) visit Portaferry Station |
6 October 2006
- John Murray & Dessie Rogers Retire |
May 2004
- Jim Brown receives 'Certificate of Thanks'
|
9 August 2006
- KCGC 'Lifeboat Day' raises over £4,000 |
June 2003
- Crew receive Queen's Jubilee Medals |
8 June 2006
- President of Ireland opens new Ireland Headquarters
of the RNLI |
May 2003
- 2002 service record |
18 May 2006
- RNLI Gold Badge awarded to the late Dr Billy
Brown is presented by HRH The Princess Alexandra.
|
January 2003
- Secretary of State visits station |
8t March 2006
- It is with regret that we record the death
of our esteemed President Dr William (Billy)
Brown. |
August
2002 - Golf
event raises £20,000 |
December 2005
- Billy Brown awarded RNLI gold badge |
June
2002 - Lea
Bradshaw receives her Silver Badge and Certificate |
November
2005 - Letter of thanks re search
for missing boy |
21
May 2002 - Newtownards Round Table
visit station |
October 2005
- Tsunami relief |
8 May 2002
- James Fitzsimmons receiving a Certificate
of Service |
26
May 2005 - Marie McGee & Jonathan
Brownlee receive Certificate of Thanks |
|
19 May 2005
- Bernadette Rogers receives Gold Badge |
May 2002
- Exercise with Strangford Ferry
|
17 February 2005
- Guild raise over £31,000 |
17 May 2001
- Eveleigh Brownlow honoured |
11
Dec 2004
- 15 Nautical Mile Walk raises £3,884 |
9 May 2001
- Fundraisers efforts recognised
|
February 2005
- Guyana Flood Relief |
1 May 2001
- Portaferry Lifeboat 21st Birthday
|
February 2005
- Tsunami Fund Raising |
March 2001
- Freedom of the Borough of Ards |

1 January
2022
Portavogie - New
Year's Day Charity Dip raises £810 for the
RNLI

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Angela Ledlie, who organised the
Portavogie New Year's Day Charity Dip, presents
a cheque for £810 to Pat Brown, Chair of
Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild.

Some of the large crowd who braved
the weather at 'The Portavogie New Year's Charity
Dip' in support of Diabetes UK and the RNLI. Our
thanks to Angela and all those who supported the
event.

Representing Portaferry RNLI were Lissa McCully
( Portaferry RNLI Community Safety
Advisor) and Ian Harrison ( Community
Safety Officer & Portaferry RNLI DLA)
Photos: Portaferry
RNLI

1 January
2022
Ross Memorial Cup Fishing Competition

Kevin Magill (left)
presents the RNLI Ross Memorial Cup to Mark Stevenson
Photo: Ross Jord
Trout Fishery
The Ross Jord Trout Fishery &
Angling Hub held a fishing competition on New
Year's Day for the RNLI Ross Memorial Cup. The
overall winner was Mark Stevenson, a volunteer
crew member from Portaferry RNLI. Runner-up
was another RNLI volunteer, David Reid from Bangor
RNLI.
Kevin Magill, who runs the
fishery at Conlig, expects the event to have raised
£950 for the RNLI which will be shared between
Bangor and Portaferry RNLI.

30 December
2021
Portavogie Christmas
Lights

Christmas decorations and lights
at a home in Portavogie have raised significant
funds for the RNLI. Gemma (pictured above)
and her husband Paul McGookin recently presented
the magnificant sum of £683.72 to Portaferry
RNLI. Thanks to everyone who supported Gemma and
Paul.

20 November
2021
Ross Jord Fishery
raises £500

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Ross Jord Fishery, located in Conlig,
County Down, recently held a fishing competition
in aid of Portaferry RNLI and raised £500.
They are planning to hold a further fishing competition
on New Years Day 2022.
Many thanks to the organisers and
all the competitors. Your donation is very much
appreciated

8 October
2021
Fishermans Cup
raises £530 for the RNLI
On Thursday 8th October David Cully
and James Mahood from Portavogie rangers FC visited
our station to donate the proceeds from this years
Fishermans Cup.

Photo: PRFC
David Cully and James Mahood
present a cheque for £530
The Fishermans Cup was started in
July 2018 when an agreement between Portavogie
rangers and Portrush Football Club was established
to host a yearly cup game to raise funds for the
RNLI. This year they managed to raise £530 for
the RNLI, and we would like to take this opportunity
to thank everyone that donated and helped make
this a successful fundraising campaign.

Photo:
PRFC
Portaferry Rangers Football Club
and Portrush Football Club
Thanks to Portavogie Rangers FC
& Portrush Football Club for your continued
support.

11 September
2021
Portaferry Lifeboat
Crew supports the Portavogie Tide & Turf Festival
Whilst on exercise the Portaferry
Lifeboat crew called into the Portavogie Tide
and Turf Festival to support the event and met
up with Pat Browne, Chairman of Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild, who was present at the
event at which a collection raised £97 for
the RNLI.

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Fundraisers from the Donaghadee
RNLI fundraising team also attended the event
and ran a pop-up Lifeboat Shop which resulted
many sales of popular RNLI products.

30
August 2021
Portaferry Lifeboat
Crew attend the Strangford Raft Race and EDYC
Treasure Hunt
Our volunteer lifeboat crew recently
called in to support the Strangford Festival Raft
Race.
They also travelled to East down
Yacht Club to visit all the 'Princesses and Pirates'
who took part in the EDYC Treasure Hunt and who
raised funds for the RNLI. Their generosity
is much appreciated.
Well done to all the participants
who took part in both events, especially Samuel
Stocking who won the EDYC treasure hunt.

Samual Stocking
who won the EDYC Treasure Hunt

Photos: Courtesy
of East Down Yacht Club
Portaferry Lifeboat
crew with some of the participants who took part
in the EDYC Treasure Hunt

14 June
2021
Portaferry RNLI
water safety advice helped to save lives at sea
on Strangford Lough
Portaferry RNLI's community safety
team was delighted in recent weeks to hear feedback
from a casualty that safety advice delivered by
one of the team's volunteers helped him to raise
the alarm when he got into difficulty on Strangford
Lough.
Lissa McCully, Portaferry RNLI Community
Safety Advisor, recently had a safety chat with
two jet ski riders on the shore of Strangford
Lough. She used the opportunity to highlight the
need to have a means of calling for help in an
emergency. Lissa also provided the jet skiers
with RNLI waterproof phone pouches to ensure they
could keep their mobiles protected when at sea.
Lissa McCully - Portaferry RNLI
Community Safety Advisor
A few weeks later, one of the jet
ski riders reached out to Lissa to thank her for
the safety advice which he said had already been
put to good use. The casualty was wearing his
new phone pouch when his jet ski got into difficulty
and he was able to raise the alarm with ease.
Lissa said: 'The casualty told me
the only reason he was able to call for help was
because the phone was in its pouch around his
neck. As a result, our volunteer crew was requested
to launch our inshore lifeboat and responded bringing
him safely back to shore.
We were delighted he was ok and
equally delighted to hear that our water safety
advice really made a difference.
Ian Harrison, Portaferry RNLI Community
Safety Officer added: 'As the summer approaches,
we want everyone planning a trip to sea to enjoy
their activities but to do so safely.'
'If you are using personal watercraft,
we would advise that you always wear a personal
floatation device, always carry a means of calling
for help on you and that you develop your skills
and training based on what is best for your needs.'
'Before going afloat tell someone
where you are going and when you will be due back.
Always check the forecast and tide times.
Always check your equipment is as it should be.
Always wear a kill cord if fitted and carry a
spare.
Should you get into difficulty or see someone
else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the
Coastguard.'

28
July 2020
Ballywalter Young Farmers raise
£4,398.54 for the RNLI

Photo: Ballywalter
Young Farmers
Ballywalter Young Farmers Club
recently celebrated their 90th Anniversary. As
part of their celebrations they kicked of the
year with a charity auction in which members offered
their services including babysitting, ploughing,
covering a silo and spreading slurry. The auction
was a great success and the club were able to
recently hand over (although not in the usual
fashion) the magnicicant sum of £4398.54 to the
RNLI. The club had decided to support the RNLI
for two years.
The RNLI was chosen as their charity
by their late patron Mrs May McAdam MBE.
Photo: Ballywalter
YFC
The late Mrs May McAdam (seated
with a presentation picture)

Photo:
Ballywalter Young Farmers Club
Ballywalter Young Farmers Club during a station
visit in November 2019

13 February
2020
St.
Joseph's Primary School pupils visit the Station

Photo: St Joseph's
Primary School
St. Joseph's Primary School P3
class from Strangford visited Portaferry RNLI
Lifeboat Station to learn about how to stay safe
around water and what to do if they see someone
in trouble in the water.

29 January
2020
'Cuan Kids' pre-school
came to visit

Photo: Cuan Kids
pre-school
We had a great visit from the ‘Cuan
Kids’ pre-school group and we’re so glad they
had lots of fun seeing our RNLI Blue
Peter V lifeboat.

2 December
2019

If you were unable
to attend and want more information please click
here

15 Nov 2019
Kircubbin Integrated
Primary School pupils and Ballywalter Young Farmers
visit the Lifeboat Station
It was a very busy week for our
Community Safety Team and our Lifeboat Crew when
the pupils from the P3 class of Kircubbin Integrated
Primary School followed by members of 2nd Newtownards
Scouts and Ballywalter Young Farmers Club visited
the Lifeboat Station.

Photo credit: Kircubbin
Integrated Primary School
During their visit
the pupils of the P3 Class of Kircubbin Integrated
Primary School learnt about staying safe by the
coast, calling for help and our crew members showed
them around our Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Blue
Peter V

Photo
credit: Kircubbin Integrated Primary School
One of our crew members showed P3 pupils around
'Blue Peter V'

Photo credit: Ballywalter
Young Farmers Club
During their visit the members of
Ballywalter Young Farmers Club learnt about 'Water
Safety' from our Community Safety Team and were
able to try on some of our lifeboat crew's all
important kit.

4 October
2019
Portaferry RNLI
celebrates 40 years of Life-Saving
By Jordan Conway
LPO

Portaferry RNLI celebrated the station's
40th anniversary this weekend with a party and
presentation evening for crew members and their
families.
During the course of the evening
the crew paid thanks to those past and present
crew members for their dedication and hard work
over the past 40 years.
Portaferry Lifeboat Station owes
its origins to a RNLI lifeboat station that was
established in 1884 in the village of Cloughey,
Co. Down. The first lifeboat called 'The Faith'
was commissioned a short while after in 1885.
With the introduction of fast inshore
lifeboats that were capable of making way against
strong tidal currents, (such as currents up to
8 knots experienced in the Strangford Narrows)
it was decided, in 1979, to place a single-engine
'C' class lifeboat in Portaferry for evaluation.
The lifeboat quickly proved to be a success and
a twin engine 'D' class was commissioned and the
Station was officially established on 1st May
1980. The station was upgraded to 24 hour all
year operation in 1982.
The past 40 years have seen huge
changes in the technology and design of the boats
and the personal safety equipment worn by the
crew. Portaferry now operates a 'B' class Atlantic
85 lifeboat known as 'Blue Peter V'. Portaferry
is one of seven 'Blue Peter' RNLI Lifeboat Stations,
and the only one in Ireland, whose lifeboats have
been sponsored by the world's longest running
television programme for children, the BBC's "Blue
Peter" which first broadcasted sixty years ago.
Our Atlantic 85 has twin engines,
radar, VHF direction-finding equipment and a righting
mechanism in the event of capsize. The 1.8 tonne
lifeboat is now launched from a trailer which
is towed down the slipway by a tractor specifically
designed to deal with the tidal range and weather
elements at Strangford Lough.
Presentations were made to past
and present crew members for their hard work and
commitment over the last 4 decades.
Lenny Lawson, Graeme Ellison and
Billy Ellison were awarded certificates from the
RNLI for their service of the many different roles
they held within the station.
John Murray (jnr) and Colin Conway
were presented with RNLI medals and a present
from the crew to acknowledge their long service
awards for 20 years (Colin) and 40 years (John).
The evening was enjoyed and attended
by Crew members, family and other members of the
different teams within Portaferry lifeboat station.
Photo credits: Jordan
Conway LPO - Portaferry RNLI

Graeme Ellison received his 'Certificate of Service'
from Darren Byres RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager

Philip Johnston LOM addresses those present following
the presentation by Darren Byres of a 'Letter
of Thanks' to Billy Ellison for his 40 years of
service to the Station.

Leonard Lawson received his Certificate of Service
from Darren Byres

Colin Conway (Helmsman)
received his 20 years long service medal from
Darren Byres
John Murray (snr), Pat Browne and
Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow were presented with gifts
as a token of thanks from the crew for all their
hard work and efforts in the roles they play in
the fundraising guild team and throughout the
station in the past 40 years.

John Murray Sen (Station
President) received a gift as a
token of thanks from Sinead Breen on behalf of
the Station for his 40 years of service.
John Murray was one of the first
station helmsmen when the station was first trialled
by the RNLI in 1979. He subsequetly served
as the Station Administration Officer, Deputy
Launching Authority, Honorary Secretary (now
renamed Lifeboat Operations Manager)
and following his retirement from this office
he was appointed as Station President. On
his retirement as Honorary Secretary, John was
awarded the prestigious Blue
Peter Gold Badge for his services, one
of very few awarded in the 60 years history of
the popular BBC/CBBC children's TV programme 'Blue
Peter'.

John Murray Jnr received a gift from Sinead Breen
as a token of thanks on behalf of the Station
having previously been presented with his 40 years
long service medal by Darren Byres.

Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow (President
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild)
receives a floral arrangement from Sinead Breen
as a token of thanks from the Station for her
40 year of fundraising.

Pat Brown (Chairman of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild)
received a floral arrangement from Sinead Breen
as a token of thanks from the Station for her
40 years of fundraising.
All photo credits:
Jordan Conway LPO - Portaferry RNLI
For
a history about the earlier days of Portaferry
Lifeboat since 1979 click here
back
to top

17 September
2019
Phototographer
Jack Lowe of
'The Lifeboat Station Project'
visits the Station
Jack Lowe from 'The Lifeboat Station
Project' visited Portaferry Station to take clear
glass ambrotype photographs of the station's lifeboat
crew during his journey around the UK and Ireland.
Jack's Story that
led to his interest in photography;
"Photography has been in my
blood since I was a young boy.
Aged 8, I received a Kodak Instamatic
camera from my grandmother, a turning point from
which I never looked back. I’ve also been
bitten by the RNLI bug since childhood and was
one of the very early members of 'Storm Force',
the RNLI’s club for junior members. Now
I’ve united those childhood passions by creating
a body of beautiful, engaging work that has become
my full-time occupation.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI) is the incredible charity of brave volunteers
who save lives at sea in the UK and Ireland. Amazingly,
the organisation has been entirely funded by voluntary
contributions for nearly 200 years.
The earliest seeds of this project
were sown in my childhood, when my love for lifeboats
began.
Much later in life, after a career
in photography, I found myself searching for a
change in direction — something that would take
me away from sitting in front of computers all
day! I considered what I felt most
passionate about and wrote these words on a piece
of paper:
Photography. Lifeboats.
The sea.
That scrap of paper — along with
a lot of thinking, dreaming and planning — led
me to the idea of travelling to all 238 RNLI lifeboat
stations in the UK and Ireland to photograph them,
in order to preserve a vital aspect of our island
nation’s culture for generations to come."
CLICK
HERE to go to Jack's website for more
information about his continuing journey to photograph
the crew of all of the RNLI's 238 lifeboat stations
of the UK and Ireland.

Photo: Steve Hawthorne
Jack Lowe taking photographs of
the crew at Portaferry Lifeboat Station

Photo: Steve Hawthorne
Portaferry Lifeboat Station and
crew with Jack's mobile dark room, a decommissioned
ambulance called 'Neena'

Photo:
Steve Hawthorne
Getting ready !

Photo: Jack Lowe
- Lifeboat Station Project
Just one iconic photograph - The
Station's Helmsmen by Jack Lowe
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28
July 2019
Portaferry Crew help to spread
the RNLI
'Float To Live' message.

Photo: RNLI
Seven members of Portaferry RNLI
volunteer crew members along with volunteer lifeboat
crew members from stations across Ireland and
London's Tower RNLI Lifeboat Station unfurled
giant water safety flags on the pitch of Croke
Park before the All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final
match between Wexford and Tipperary at Croke Park
in Dublin. The activity was part of the RNLI’s
partnership with the GAA to prevent drownings
and share water safety advice.
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26
July 2019
Killyleagh Yacht Club raises £1,200
for RNLI
A huge 'Thank
You' to Killyleagh Yacht Club for their
fundraising efforts this year through their various
sailing events which raised £1200 for the RNLI.

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Graham and Julie
Chambers from Killyleagh Yacht Club presented
the cheque for £1200 to Colin Conway and
Jordan Conway from Portaferry Lifeboat Station.
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to top

20
July 2019
Portrush Football
Club win the
RNLI Fishermans Cup


Photos: Portavogie
Rangers Football Club
The RNLI Fisherman’s Cup Trophy
this year makes its way to Portrush. Portrush
FC fought hard and stayed resilient to come out
with a win. (Portavogie Rangers FC 3 - Portrush
FC 4) The match took place at Londonderry
Park, Newtownards.
Ards FC Sports Club kindly hosted
both teams after the game and provided food and
refreshments.
Thanks also to Quinn’s Chippy &
The Quays Restaurant of Portavogie who also provided
food after the game.
Thanks to several businesses and
individuals who contributed to the fundraiser
for the RNLI.
Donations
can still be made through the Portavogie Rangers
Football Club Committee.
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11 May 2019
Community Safety Team attend the
Quoile Yacht Club's Annual 'RNLI Lifeboat Race'

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
The Quoile Yacht Club hosted Portaferry
RNLI Community Safety Team who supported the club's
annual 'RNLI Lifeboat Race' sailing event on Strangford
Lough. Great weather ensured some good racing
and everyone made it safely around the course.
Portaferry Lifeboat crew in 'Blue
Peter V' also made a guest appearance in
recognition of the club's efforts in supporting
the RNLI.
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10
May 2019
Community Safety
Team assist Donaghadee RNLI 'Sporting Challenge'

Photo: Donaghadee
RNLI
Portaferry's
Community Safety Team assisted the Donaghadee
RNLI Fundraising Team during their 'RNLI Sporting
Challenge' event held at Killard House School,
Donaghadee. Pupils from several local primary
schools attended the event during which our Community
Safety Officer, Ian Harrison, gave water safety
advice.
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6 March 2019
1st Ards Scout
Group and Cuan Pre School visit the Station
During the past few days 1st Ards
Scout Group visited the Lifeboat Station to learn
about Water Safety and the RNLI 'Respect The Water'
& 'Float' messages from our Community Safety
Officer, Ian Harrison and his supporting team.

Photo credit: 1st
Ards Scout Group
Photo
credit: 1st Ards Scout Group
Cuan Pre School also visited the
Station to learn about keeping themselves safe
near water and about the lifesaving work of the
RNLI and the crew of Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue
Peter V'.

Photo
Credit: Cuan Pre School

Photo Credit: Cuan
Pre School
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17 January
2019
St Joseph's School
from Strangford visits the Station

Photo
credit: St Joseph's School
Portaferry RNLI Station Visits Team
welcomed the pupils from St Joseph's School in
Strangford during which they learnt about 'Sea
Safety' and 'Calling for Help'.
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4 December
2018
1st Kircubbin Scout Group visit
Lifeboat Station

Photo credit: 1st
Kircubbin Scout Group
1st Kircubbin Scout Group visited the lifeboat
station and were able to learn about the importance
of 'Water Safety' and the lifesaving work of the
lifeboat crew and their Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Blue
Peter V'
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3 November
2018
4
Long-Serving Volunteers Retire
Exploris in Portaferry was the venue
for a great evening to honour four of the stalwart
volunteers of the RNLI lifeboat Station in Portaferry.
Brian Bailee, Leonard Lawson, Jonathon
Brownlee and Billy Ellison were instrumental in
the formation and development of Portaferry Lifeboat
Station that was officially opened by the RNLI
in May 1980 following a trial period in 1979.
After a guided tour of the Exploris
aquarium followed by dinner and refreshments,
the crew, station management and fundraisers were
delighted to have the opportunity to recognise
all four retirees with the presentation of origional
artwork by Colin Cunliffe, illustrating the turbulent
and dangerous seas sometimes experienced at the
Strangford Bar by the crews of the Portaferry
Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter
V'.
During the presentation there were
expressions of thanks to the awardees for their
many years of service as RNLI volunteers and for
all their dedicated voluntary work for Portaferry
Lifeboat Station over the decades.

Photo: Bernard
Roddy LPO - Portaferry RNLI
L to R Billy
Ellison, Jonathon Brownlee, Leonard Lawson and
Brian Bailee

Photo: Bernard Roddy
LPO - Portaferry RNLI
Billy Ellison (left - former
crew member in 1979 & outgoing station treasurer)
receives a painting from Simon Rogers LOM (centre)
and Colin Conway (right)

Photo: Bernard Roddy
LPO - Portaferry RNLI
Jonathan Brownlee (left - former
crew member in 1984, former helmsman and outgoing
lifeboat training co-ordinator) receives
a painting from Simon Rogers LOM (centre)
and Colin Conway

Photo: Bernard Roddy
LPO - Portaferry RNLI
Leonard Lawson (left - former
crew member in 1979 and outgoing DLA)
receives a painting from Simon Rogers LOM (centre)
and Colin Conway

Photo: Bernard Roddy
LPO - Portaferry RNLI
Brian Bailee (left - former
crew member in 1985 and outgoing LOM)
receives a painting from Simon Rogers LOM (centre)
and Colin Conway
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1 November
2018

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12 September 2018
Portavogie Youth
2011's Football Team and
RNLI 911 Challenge
visit station
It was a busy evening for the volunteers
at the Portaferry RNLI Station on Wednesday 12
September.
First of all, we had a visit from
Belinda and James Richardson who are raising funds
for the RNLI by attempting to drive anti-clockwise
around the whole of the British Isles visiting
all 238 RNLI Lifeboat Stations in a Porsche 911
within 911 hours! For more information on their
epic challenge please visit: http://www.rnli-911challenge.co.uk/
Photo: Bernard Roddy
LPO - Portaferry RNLI
No sooner had James and Belinda
headed off to continue their RNLI-911 Challenge,
the Portavogie Youth 2011's Football squad arrived
with some of their parents and coaches.

Photo credit: Portavogie
Youth Football Team
They all enjoyed inspecting our
'Blue Peter V'

Photo credit: Portavogie
Youth Football Team
Their coach, David Cully, presented
a cheque on their behalf for an astounding £1,300.00
to Mrs Pat Browne, chairman of the Portaferry
and District Lifeboat Guild.
A huge thanks from all at the RNLI
for all your hard work raising this money and
we hope you all enjoyed your visit.
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15 August
2018
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club
RNLI Golf Day
The Portaferry and District Lifeboat
Guild's 'RNLI Golf Day' was held once again at
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club on Wednesday 15 August
2018 by the kind permission of the KCGC Council
and members.
Vital funds amounting to over £1,600
were raised in support of the life-saving work
of the RNLI.
Many thanks to our sponsors, Michael
Stewart Pressure Washers and Desmond Eastwood
Motors of Lisburn.

Winning Team - Gerry Reilly, Yvonne Posnett,
Carmel Hanvey & Philip Posnett

1st prize Men - Gerry Reilly receives
his prizes from Mike Miall, Vice-Chairman of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild

1st prize Ladies - Yvonne Posnett
receives her prizes from Mike Miall, Vice-Chairman
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild

Desmond Eastwood Motors of Lisburn were one of
the sponsors
Winners of the Ballot were Colin
Whan and Colin Crozier
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16 May 2018

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28
January 2018
65th Anniversary
of the sinking of the Princess Victoria
on 31 January 1953
On 31 January 1953 severe storm
force winds across the British Isles were creating
a storm surge that was causing severe flooding
along the east coast of England resulting in the
loss of many lives.
In Stranraer, on the west coast
of Scotland, the Larne-Stranraer passenger ferry
Princess Victoria was delayed by the inclement
weather from departing at its usual time of 07:00.
With all passengers and freight
on board the ferry departed shortly before 08:00.
What
followed were several hours of misfortune culminating
in the transmission of a final distress message
from the ship's Radio Officer, David Broadfoot,
at 13:58 shortly before the Princess Victoria
keeled over and sank in the Irish Sea off the
Copeland Islands with the loss of 133 lives. Only
44 of the 177 persons on board survived.

Photo: Dawn Petrie
RNLI Lifeboat Crew and station officials
from Bangor, Donaghadee, Larne, Newcastle, Portaferry
and Portpatrick converged in Donaghadee to attend
a memorial service in Donaghadee Parish Church
on 28 January for those who lost their lives during
the sinking of the MV Princess Victoria off the
Copeland Islands on 31 January 1953.
The memorial service, organised
by the 'Sir Samual Kelly Project', was attended
by the Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David
Lindsay and Lady Sylvia Hermon MP together with
the mayors of North Down and Ards and Larne district
councils and other dignitaries.

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI Facebook page
Some of the Portaferry Lifeboat crew members
who attended the ceremonies
For a short history of the
sinking of the Princess Victoria click here
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8 January
2018

Photo: Spectator
Newspapers
Since New Year's Day 2018 Mary Hickey
from Arklow has been running around the entire
coast of Ireland to raise funds for the RNLI.
Now aged 65, Mary has already competed
in all 38 Dublin marathons and her desire is now
to raise funds and awareness for the RNLI.
Mary called into Portaferry RNLI
on Monday afternoon, 8 January, where she was
greeted by crew members and provided with suitable
refreshments and a local fish supper.
Next port of call for Mary is Donaghadee
RNLI, a walking distance of over 22 miles
All
of us at Portaferry RNLI wish Mary every success
in the remainder of her 'RNLI Lap of the Map'
fundraising journey around Ireland.
Note:
Mary Hickey completed her Round-Ireland walk on
Saturday 14 April during which she had travelled
1,509 miles and raised over €50,000 for the
RNLI
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1 January
2018
Simon Rogers appointed
as Lifeboat Operations Manager

Simon Rogers
Simon Rogers, a former Chief helmsman
of Portaferry Lifeboat, has been appointed by
the RNLI as the station's new Lifeboat Operations
Manager following the retirement of Brian Bailee
who has served as LOM since 2006 and in other
roles since 1985.
Simon heralds from what could best
be described as a 'RNLI Family' with many awards
for life saving and other services to Portaferry
Lifeboat Station. Simon's father, Desmond
Rogers, was appointed as the station's first senior
helmsman when the station officially opened in
1980 and his mother Bernadette was the station's
first honorary secretary of the fundraising Portaferry
Ladies Guild in 1979, an office among others that
she held until retiring in 2015. In addition
other members of the 'Roger's Family' are still
closely involved with the life-saving work of
the station.

Former LOM Brian Bailee
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11 November
2017
CAN YOU VOLUNTEER FOR THE RNLI?
Portaferry Lifeboat Station Needs
An Operations Manager
Are you a team player?
Do you have excellent communication & management
skills?
This role requires you to lead the operations
team locally and ensure the lifeboat is always
ready to save lives at sea
If you are interested and have the time to commit
to this role Contact volunteering@rnli.org.uk
or apply online at rnli.org.uk/volroles
Closing
date for applications is 27 November 2017
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21 September
2017
Portavogie Rangers
Football Club support the
RNLI 'Respect the Water'
campaign

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Kenny, Paul and Alan (1st,
2nd & 4th L to R) from Portavogie
Rangers Football Club unveil their club's 2 year
support for the RNLI 'Respect the
Water' campaign
Portavogie Rangers Football Club
have chosen the RNLI 'Respect the Water' campaign
as their chosen charity for the next two seasons
with the support of local fishermen and seafood
processors.
As part of this support two teams
(1 senior and 1 junior) will display the 'Respect
the Water' logo on their team shirts.
The idea to support the RNLI came
from the Club in the hope that the RNLI water
safety campaign will be spread near and far.
(Note: On 18 September
2013 a local Portavogie fisherman, Sam Cully,
was rescued from drowning by the Portaferry Lifeboat
after his fishing boat sank. For Sam's story
click here)

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Portavogie Youth Football Club also
made a visit to the lifeboat station to learn
about water safety and the lifesaving work of
the RNLI and the Portaferry Lifeboat 'Blue
Peter V'
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9 April
2017
Local artist Darren
Leahy paints in memory of the crew of Irish Coast
Guard helicopter Rescue 116

Photo:Portaferry
RNLI
On 15 June 2010 Darren (Duxy) Leahy
from Killyleagh was rescued in Marlfield Bay by
Portaferry Lifeboat when his power boat 'Spirit'
developed engine failure.
When an Irish Coast Guard helicopter
Rescue 116 went down off Blacksod Island, County
Mayo, on the early morning of 14 March 2017 with
the tragic loss of life of all four crew members,
Darren decided to paint three pictures in memoriam.
At the time of the disaster Rescue
116 had been supporting communications with the
Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 which
had been evacuating an injured fisherman from
a fishing vessel located in the Atlantic, 160
miles west of Blacksod Island.
One of Duxy's pictures will be presented
to the Irish Coast Guard, one to Mourne Mountain
Rescue and one to Portaferry Lifeboat Station.

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Brian Bailie, Portaferry
Lifeboat Operations Manager (pointing
to the record of Daren's rescue) and Pat
Browne, Chairman of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild, accept one of Darren's paintings
in memory of the crew of Rescue 116.
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1 April 2017
Lifeboat 47-031
'Voluntary Worker' retires

Selsey Lifeboat, 47-031, leaves
Selsey Lifeboat Station for the last time
Selsey Lifeboat 47-031, 'Voluntary
Worker', retired from service on 1 April 2017
after serving 29 years with the RNLI.
'Voluntary Worker' was named
in Poole on 23 September 1988 by the late Jess
Brown from Portaferry Lifeboat Guild.
During her years in service she
was used in the RNLI's relief fleet and finally
became the Selsey Lifeboat in February 2006 where
she remained in service until 1 April 2017.
For more information on 'Voluntary
Worker' click here
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13 November
2016
Pat Browne
represents RNLI Fundraisers at
London's Cenotaph
Pat Browne, Chairman
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild was
chosen the represent RNLI Fundraisers throughout
the UK and Ireland at the annual Remembrance Sunday
Service at London's Cenotaph.
Pat was accompanied
by 16 RNLI crew members representing stations
throughout the UK and Ireland

Representing Northern Ireland
at London's Cenotaph were Derek Rea, Station Mechanic
(Larne), Frank Healy, Coxswain (Larne),
Pat Browne, Chairman of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild and Rory Hoy, Helmsman (Enniskillen)

Pat Browne with 16 crew members
from lifeboat stations throughout the UK and Ireland
who represented the RNLI at the Annual Remembrance
Service at the Cenotaph in London.
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January 2016
Voluntary Worker
is still saving lives
Named at the RNLI Headquarters in
Poole on 23 September 1988 by the late Jess Brown
from Portaferry Lifeboat Guild she is still saving
lives at Selsey RNLI Lifeboat Station. She
is expected to be retired from service early 2017
after almost 30 years in service.
For more information about 'Voluntary
Worker' click here

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9 November
2015
Margaret Barbour retires

Photo: Pat Browne
- RNLI
Margaret Barbour, Asst Honorary
Secretary and a member of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild for over 10 years, has recently
retired from office.
To mark Margaret's retirement members
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild invited
her and her husband to 'Afternoon Tea' in the
lifeboat station during which she was was presented
with an anchor & chain silver necklace by
the Guild in their thanks for her years of service.
Margaret is a founding member of
Donaghadee Lifeboat Guild which is currently celebrating
its 40th anniversary.

Photo: Pat Browne
- RNLI
Margaret, accompanied by her husband
Sam, was presented with a gift from the Guild
by Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow (left),
President of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild.
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13 September 2015
Down Cruising Club
raises
£500 for RNLI

Photo: Jeff Marshall
Down Cruising Club's President,
Gerry Mateer, presented a cheque to the RNLI for
£500 during the club's 'European Heritage
Open Day' held on 13 September aboard their clubhouse,
Lightship Petrel.
In addition a RNLI shop manned by
members of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild sold RNLI Souveniers to members and visitors
that raised £120. Receiving the donation
on behalf of the RNLI were Portaferry Lifeboat
crew members L to R
Simon Rogers, Paul Mageean and Mark Stevenson.
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25 June 2015
RNLI - Northern
Ireland Awards
The Annual RNLI
Awards for 2015 were held in the Belfast Titanic
Banqueting Suite.
Presenting the
awards was RNLI Chairman Charles Hunter-Pease

Mike Miall, Vice Chairman and
Treasurer of Portaferry and District Lifeboat
Guild receives a RNLI Bronze Badge from Charles
Hunter-Pease

Vera Murphy, a long standing fund-raiser
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild, receives
a 'Certificate of Thanks on Vellum' from RNLI
Chairman, Charles Hunter-Pease

Susan Brewster, a long-time supporter
of Portaferry Lifeboat Station, receives a 'Certificate
of Thanks on Vellum' from RNLI Chairman, Charles
Hunter-Pease
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23 April 2015
Bernadette
Rogers retires
Bernadette
Rogers, a founding member of the Portaferry Lifeboat
Ladies Guild, has retired from office after 35+
years of service to the RNLI.
Bernadette
served for many years as the Honorary Secretary
of the Portaferry Lifeboat Ladies Guild that was
established in 1980. The Guild was
renamed Portaferry Lifeboat Guild in 1985 to encourage
male participation and subsequently changed to
Portaferry and District Lifeboat Guild to reflect
the wider area covered by the station.

Photo: Portaferry
RNLI
Bernadette
Rogers (right) is presented with a flower arrangement
and a commerative plaque (the
last of 5 produced in 2010 to comemorate the opening
of the new Portaferry Lifeboat Station boathouse)
by Pat Browne (Chairman) and Eveleigh Brownlow
(President) of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild
Bernadette was awarded the RNLI
Gold Badge in 2005 in recognition of her 25 years
of service which was presented to her in May of
that year by the RNLI President, HRH The Duke
of Kent, during the Institution's Annual General
Meeting held in London.
Bernadette's husband, Desmond, was
the stations first Helmsman in 1979 when the RNLI
established a trial station at Portaferry and
he was subsequently appointed Chief Helmsman when
the Portaferry Lifeboat Station was first established
in May 1980. Since that time their three
children have served in the capacity of Chief
Helmsman, Helmsman and as a crew member.
Over the past 35 years many of the
station's life-saving services and successful
RNLI fund-raising events have involved the 'Rogers'
family.

Bernadette Rogers
pictured in 1981 (seated front row - 2nd from
right) with members of Portaferry Lifeboat Ladies
Guild. Seated beside Bernadette is the Station's
first President, Sir John Andrews.
Portaferry Lifeboat Station and
those who live in the associated sea areas covered
by the station owe Bernadette and the 'Rogers'
family a debt of gratitude that can never be fully
repaid.
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16 April 2015
Comber Rifle Club
donate to the RNLI

Photo: RNLI - Sam
Barbour
Comber Rifle Club held a dance on
Easter Tuesday at which they raised £900
for the RNLI. Pictured above are Sidney
and Ann Semple when they visited Portaferry Lifeboat
Station and presented a cheque for the proceeds
to Margaret Barbour of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild.
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21 March 2015
Portaferry RNLI
35th Anniversary Ball
The Portaferry Lifeboat 35th Anniversary
Ball was held at the La Mon Hotel & Country
Club on Saturday 21 March.

Photo- Newtownards
Chronicle
Some of the crew
members who attended the ball were (L
to R - front row), Brian Bailie, Graham
Edgar, Marko Petric (L to R
- back row) Chris Adair, Colin Conway,
Fiona Magee, Sinead Breen, Ryan Miskelly &
Mark Stevenson

Photo: Newtownards
Chronicle
Some of the Portaferry
& District Lifeboat guild who attended were
(L to R) Wendy Conway,
Joan Peacock Ann Miall, Mike Miall, Eveleigh Brownlow,
Bernie Rogers and Pat Browne
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30 January
2015
Eveleigh Brownlow invested by HRH The Prince of
Wales with MBE at Buckingham Palace
Photo: RNLI - Melissa
Seppings
Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow, President
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild, accompanied
by several members of her family, attended an
investiture at Buckingham Palace on 30 January
2015 at which she was invested with the MBE by
HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales.
Mrs Brownlow was awarded the MBE
for her work in the local community. She
has already received the RNLI Gold Badge and Bar
for her many years of fundraising for the former
RNLI Cloughey/Portavogie lifeboat stations and
the Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station that will
celebrate 35 years of life-saving service in May
this year.
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1 November 2014
Eddie and Marie McGee's many
years of fundraising work for the RNLI is recognised

Photo: David Peacock
- RNLI
Marie McGee and her husband, Capt
Eddie McGee, have received the thanks of Portaferry
RNLI Lifeboat Station and the Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild during the annual Portaferry
Lifeboat Crew Dinner that was held at the Portaferry
Hotel on 1 November 2014.
Marie and Eddie have recently retired
from membership of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild after many years of dedicated service during
which they have both been very involved in the
raising of hundreds of thousands of £'s
for the RNLI.
Capt Eddie McGee, until recently,
was the treasurer of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild and served as such for over 15
years.
Marie and Eddie are pictured above
with Mrs Pat Browne, Chairman of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild (1st
Lto R) and Mrs Eveleigh
Brownlow, President of Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild.
(3rd L to R).
The presentation included a special
commemorative plate that was commissioned for
the opening of the new Portaferry Boathouse in
2010 and for which Marie and Eddie were involved
in raising significant funds.
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13 June 2014
Eveleigh Brownlow
awarded the MBE

Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow, President
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild, has
been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours
for voluntary services to her community.
An active fundraiser for over 35
years at Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station, and
in earlier years for the Cloughey & Portavogie
RNLI lifeboat stations, the award also recognises
other voluntary work including her many years
of volunteering to secure the continuation of
horse racing at Downpatrick Race Course and in
recognition of which Mrs Brownlow is currently
the society's Patron.
In the 1970's the Downpatrick horse
racing course was threatened with closure due
to a government decision to restrict limited grant
aid to only one race course in Northern Ireland.
At that time Eveleigh Brownlow and her
late husband, Major William Brownlow, became closely
involved in the formation of the 'Downpatrick
Race Supporters Club' that started raising funds
which were eventually sufficient to secure the
survival of horse racing at the Downpatrick race
course.
In recognition and in memory of
the voluntary work by the late Major Brownlow,
who had been Chairman of 'Downpatrick' for 35
years, a new 'Brownlow' hospitality suite was
opened at Downpatrick Race Course by Mrs Brownlow
in March 2014.
The Investiture of Mrs Brownlow's
MBE will take place in London later this year.
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22 May 2014
Leonard Lawson
awarded RNLI Gold Badge
Leonard (Lenny) Lawson has been
awarded a RNLI Gold Badge in recognition of his
long service record for the RNLI.
The award was presented during the
RNLI National Awards ceremony, held at the Barbican
Centre, London, following which the rescue of
a fisherman by Portaferry Lifeboat, in which Leonard
was involved as a DLA, formed the main feature
(see below) of the 2014 national awards
ceremony.
Leonard was one of the founding
crew members of the Portaferry Lifeboat and he
played a very significant role through Portaferry
Sailing Club in encouraging the RNLI to trial
a lifeboat station in Portaferry, resulting in
the RNLI trialling a lifeboat in Portaferry in
1979.
Following successful trials the
RNLI decided to establish a lifeboat station in
Portaferry in May 1980.
Leonard's late mother (Anne)
was instrumental in encouraging the BBC 'Blue
Peter' children's programme to fund a lifeboat
at Portaferry.
During the following years three
'Blue Peter V' lifeboats have been sponsored by
BBC 'Blue Peter', resulting in the saving of many
lives.
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22 May
2014
RNLI London Awards
ceremony highlights Northern Ireland Rescue
Lifeboats News Release
Date: 26/05/2014
Author: Niamh Stephenson
- RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland
The RNLI Annual Presentation of
Awards was held last Thursday (22 May 2014) in
the Barbican Theatre in London and in an unusual
move the charity departed from the awards ceremony
to look at the story behind one rescue.
That rescue involved Northern Ireland
man Sam Cully whose life was saved on Wednesday
18 September when the boat he was fishing in sank
rapidly in a Force 6 off the coast of County Down.
That day RNLI lifeboat crew from Portaferry and
Donaghadee along with the Irish Coast Guard helicopter
Rescue 116 were involved in his rescue but there
were other groups and organisations behind the
story.
(For more
information and more photos of the rescue click
here) (For
detailed information of the service record click
here)
Photo credit: RNLI/Jon
Stokes
Finale
party:
(Left to Right)
Sam Cully and his wife Marie-Clare,
Nigel Blazeby, Chair of the Fishing Industry Safety
Group, Jane Goodwin and Tony Brown, Mulligan,
Maurice Lake, Fisherman's Mission, Dr Lynn Gilmore,
Seafish, Dick James, Northern Ireland Fish Producers
Organisation, John Speers, Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Frankie Horne and John
Fulton, RNLI Fishing Safety Managers, Philip McNamara,
Coxswain Donaghadee RNLI, Lenny Lawson DLA Portaferry
RNLI, Graham Egar DLA Portaferry RNLI, Marko Petric
Helmsman Portaferry RNLI and Sinead Breen and
Paul Mageen crew members from Portaferry RNLI.
While Sam waited for help to arrive
he was able to stay afloat wearing a Personal
Flotation Device (PFD) that he had received from
a grant-aided scheme.
The funds were secured from the
European Fisheries Fund, the Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development, ASDA, the Northern Ireland
Fish Producers Organisation and Seafish.
For the first time the RNLI brought
everyone who was involved in saving Mr Cully's
life together on one stage.
At the time of his rescue Sam Cully
commented: 'I was only able to swim five or ten
metres or so, and even then the wind and swell
were washing me away from the shore. The boat
went down so quickly, and I was so relieved to
find the lifejacket doing exactly what I was told
it would do. I cannot thank all those organisations
involved enough.
RNLI Chairman Charles Hunter-Pease
introduced the following groups and organisations
who all played a part in the rescue onto the Barbican
stage; the Maritime Coast Agency's Fishing Industry
Safety Group, the Northern Ireland Fish Prodcuers
Organisation, the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development, the RNLI's Fishing Safety team,
lifejacket and personal floatation manufacturers
Mullion, Seafish and the Fisherman's Mission.
The two RNLI lifeboat crews who
responded to the emergency after being alerted
by the coastguard were Portaferry and Donaghadee
RNLI and they too were represented. Coxswain Philip
McNamara was present from Donaghadee lifeboat
station and Portafery RNLI were represented by
Deputy Launching Authority Lennie Lawson, shore
crewmember Graham Edgar and lifeboat crew Marko
Petrick, Sinead Breen and Paul Mageean. Luke Murphy
who was also on the lifeboat crew that day was
unable to be present.
Speaking after the event Donaghadee
RNLI Coxswain Philip McNamara said, 'It was an
honour to be present at the ceremony and surrounded
by so many people working together to help fishermen
stay safe at sea. This was a life saved on the
day of the rescue but Sam gave himself every chance
by wearing a life jacket and being prepared. Everyone
on that stage was a lifesaver.'
Lennie Lawson, Portaferry RNLI Deputy
Launching Authority added, 'It was a very moving
occasion. It was lovely to be acknowledged in
such good company. So many people work behind
the scenes in the RNLI to make sure our lifeboats
get to sea and we all do it voluntarily. In this
instance the number of people behind the scenes
was huge. This scheme has been very important
to the fishing community and it shows that by
working together we can save lives.'
The evening ended with an emotional
video tribute by Sam Cully who then surprised
the group on stage and the audience present by
coming out with his wife Marie-Clare to thank
everyone present in person.
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1 February 2014
Isabel Hood appointed
as Chairman of Portaferry's 'Lifeboat Management
Group'

Isabel Hood has been appointed by
the RNLI as Chairman of Portaferry Lifeboat Stations
'Lifeboat Management Group' and takes over from
David Russell who has served 10 years in the position.
Isabel is currently Chairman of
the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership and
is also involved with various organisations including
the Mourne Heritage Trust, the Northern Ireland
Enviromental Link and the Open University. She
is a keen and experienced sailor.
During David Russell's watch the
Station saw many improvements, including the building
of a new enlarged boathouse to house a new Atlantic
85 lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V'.
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6 January
2014
RNLI
Flood Rescue teams on standby in Portaferry

Photo: RNLI - Portaferry
RNLI Flood Rescue
teams were sent to Portaferry, Co. Down on 6 January
in response to a flood alert along the coastline
of the Ards Peninsula.
Seas were forecast
to rise well above the predicted high-water level
due to a combination of spring tides, low barometric
pressure and southerly storm force winds that
had persisted over several days. These
combined events resulted in tidal surges along
the Ard's Peninsula, in Strangford Lough and elsewhere
along Irish Sea and Atlantic coastlines.

The Strand, Portaferry,
6 January 2014 - Photo: from Portaferry
Gala website
Fortunately, winds
in the area moderated prior to high water and
the expected tidal surge along the County Down
coast was not as high as forecast. A
sea level of 0.7m above the predicted high-water
level was recorded at Bangor, County Down, slightly
less than the 0.9m recorded on 4 January when
damage was caused by large
breaking waves to coastal roads near Ballywalter
and Greyabbey.
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30 September
2013
Former Portaferry
Lifeboat shore-crew member appointed as
2nd Coxswain of Douglas Lifeboat

Photo: RNLI - Mike
Howland - LPO @ Douglas Lifeboat Station
'Lifeboats' news release 30/09/2013
Author: Mike Howland - Douglas
RNLI Lifeboat Station
Recently qualified Deputy Second
Coxswain, Graeme Cushnie, was presented with his
badge of office, his Coxswain’s hat, by Lifeboat
Operations Manager of Douglas Lifeboat Station,
Mary Corran, following this morning’s (29 September)
lifeboat exercise.
Graeme, who began his career as
a Marine Biologist and then moved into teaching
and is currently Headteacher at Ballaugh Primary
School, explained his involvement as a RNLI volunteer:
‘I've always felt a connection to
the sea having being raised in the village of
Kircubbin on the shores of Strangford Lough and
learning to sail a rickety old Mirror dinghy with
my Dad. There's nothing quite like messing around
in boats and as a child I enjoyed being on, in
and beside the sea.
It wasn't until 1989 that I became
officially involved with the RNLI, joining the
Portaferry shore crew while on a placement at
the QUB Marine Laboratory. Then, in 1991, while
at The Marine Laboratory in Port Erin, I signed
up to help with the Rother Class lifeboat Osman
Gabriel. In 1992 she was replaced by an Atlantic
inshore lifeboat and by 1996 I was passed out
as a helmsman. There I stayed until October 2008,
learning a great deal from those around me, when
I then moved to Douglas.
It was refreshing to start from
the bottom again, learning the ropes on the Tyne
Class all-weather lifeboat, The Sir William
Hillary, which brings us up to the present
day.
None of this would have been possible
without the support of the people at each of the
lifeboat stations, my employer and of course Lisa,
my wife who is the only person I know that can
sleep through multiple pager alerts.’
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to top

27 September
2013
Fisherman
meets his rescuers
A fisherman, Sam Cully, from Portavogie,
County Down, whose fishing boat sank on 18 September
2013 has visited Portaferry Lifeboat Station to
thank his rescuers.

Photo: RNLI - Bernard
Roddy
Sam's fishing boat sank quickly
with little time to send a 'Mayday'.
His 'Mayday' call was picked up
by Coastguards monitoring Channel 16 resulting
in the immediate launch of Donaghadee and Portaferry
Lifeboats and the tasking of an Irish SAR Coast
Guard Helicopter Rescue 116.

Photo: RNLI - Bernard
Roddy
Helmsman, Marko Petric, and crew
members Paul Mageen, Luke Murphy with Sam Cully
(Not included:
Sinead Breen who was also a crew member - Sinead
was a crew member
on 19 January 2006 during a service when one fisherman
was rescued off Ardglass and for which she received
a RNLI Vellum Certificate for her part in the
fisherman's rescue and the following search for
his two missing colleagues)
After 45 minutes in the water, Sam was
found in a cold and distressed state by the crew
(above) of Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter
V', who were the first to reach the search
area. Helmsman, Marko Petric entered
the water to assist in getting Sam on board the
lifeboat and he was subsequently flown by the
Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter
116 to hospital in Belfast.
Fortunately, Sam was wearing a lifejacket
that had been supplied to him two weeks earlier
by the Fishermen's Mission through funding from
Seafish, the Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development through the European Fisheries Fund,
the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Association
and the supermarket ASDA, and with the support
of the Maritime Coastguard Agency and the RNLI.
For more detailed information about
the rescue please click here
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7 August
2013
RNLI Golf Day at
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club
The Kirkistown
Castle Golf Club's 'RNLI Golf Day' has raised
the magnificant sum of £2,865 for the RNLI.
Our
thanks to the Captain and Council of Kirkistown
Castle Golf Club and to KCGC members for the all-day
use of the course and of the member's Clubhouse
and to Billy Rogan for organising the event once
again.
RESULTS
Ladies
1st N Waring
2nd Anne Warnock
3rd Valerie McKenzie

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Gents
1st Graham McKenzie
2nd T Davis
3rd Harry McKenzie

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Ladies Team
Patsy McGoldrick Team

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Gents Team
Bill Miscampbell Team

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Mixed Team
Harry McKenzie & Valerie McKenzie Team

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
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3 August
2013
Six RNLI lifeboats from Northern
Ireland and the Isle of Man took part in an exercise
on the Irish Sea earlier today to simulate the
rescue of 30 persons from small passenger vessel
that was sinking.
Co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard,
from their Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre
in Bangor, County Down, the successful exercise
began at 09:00 and concluded at 12:45.
Lifeboats from Donaghadee (County
Down), Newcastle (County Down), Peel
(Isle of Man), Portaferry (County Down),
Port Erin (Isle of Man) and Port St Mary
(Isle of Man) participated in the joint
exercise.
The exercise follows on the sinking
off the County Cork coast of Ireland of the tall
ship Astrid on 28 July when 30 persons
were rescued by four RNLI lifeboats.
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12 July 2013
Around the World
trip will raise funds for the RNLI

Photo: RNLI -
Pat Browne
Stuart Browne and James Wood leaving
Portaferry to join the Mongol Rally
Stuart Browne and James Wood
are participating in the Mongol Rally which starts
at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex, on 15 July. This
year the rally has chosen 'Cool Earth' as its
primary charity for which participants must raise
a minimum of £500.
Participants are also entitled
to fundraise for an additional charity and James
and Stuart have chosen Portaferry RNLI.
The two 'Adventurists' will join
other participants at Bodiam Castle on 14 July
and will start their drive the following day to
Mongolia, a journey of 10,000 miles through Europe
and Asia. Their journey to Mongolia
will take them across 5 mountain ranges and 3
deserts. Vehicles in the rally must
have an engine capacity under 1,200cc and be less
than 9 years old.
To find out how much James and
Stuart have raised for the RNLI so far please
click here
Following the completion of the
Mongol Rally in late August, James and Stuart
plan to travel eastwards to the United States
before returning to Northern Ireland.
1 September
2013 - Stuart and James have reached Mongolia
and are now travelling East through Asia with
the intent of crossing the United States of America
before returning home in 2014.
December
2013 - Stuart and James have now completed their
'Round the World' trip on their trike motorcycle
and have returned home from the USA. Their 'trike'
has recently been shipped back to Northern Ireland
from the USA.
It
is still not too late to donate so PLEASE click
here
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12 June 2012
Ann Miall receives
RNLI Certificate of Thanks
Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Ann Miall has been presented with
a framed 'RNLI Certificate of Thanks' during the
recent
Northern Ireland RNLI Awards in recognition of
her years of fundraising for the RNLI.
The presentation, held in the Great
Hall of Queen's University Belfast on 12 June,
was made by Admiral the Lord Boyce, Chairman of
the RNLI.
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7 March
2013
RNLI Chief Executive
visits Portaferry RNLI

Photo: Lynne
Gilmore
Vice Admiral Paul Boissier CB, Chief
Executive of the RNLI, paid a visit to Portaferry
RNLI during his recent visit to Northern Ireland.
Paul Boissier (left) is pictured with John
Murray (President Portaferry
RNLI Lifeboat Station), Mrs Eveleigh
Brownlow (President Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild)
and Brian Bailee (Lifeboat
Operations Manager - Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat
Station)

Photo: Lynne Gilmore
Crew, Shore Crew, Fundraisers
and the Station's management team welcomed Paul
Boissier and his colleagues to Portaferry RNLI
Lifeboat Station.
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29 December
2012
Lifeboat and Shore
Crew receive Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals

Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant
for County Down, David Lindsay, with (seated
l. to r.) John Murray; Station
President, David Russell; Chairman
Station Management Group, Brian
Bailie; Lifeboat Operations
Manager, and Cadet Warrant Officer
Mathew Stewart who accompanied the Lord-Lieutenant.
Standing (l. to r.)
are 8 of the 12 awardees; John Murray Jnr, Marko
Petric, Colin Hagan, Simon Rogers, Graeme Ellison,
Jonathan Brownlee, Colin Conway and Jeremy Rogers
All photos: RNLI
- Jim Brown
Lifeboat and shore crew members
at Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station have been
awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for
their many years of life-saving work.
Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for
the County of Down, David Lindsay, presented the
medals to the awardees at a function held in the
RNLI lifeboat station at Portaferry.
Presenting the awards, the Lord-Lieutenant
thanked the awardees for their many years of life-saving
work and congratulated them on their well-deserved
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals.
Awardees of the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Medal were; Brian Bailie, Shinead Breen,
Jonathan Brownlee, Colin Conway, Graeme Ellison,
Colin Hagan, Jackie Harrison, Leonard Lawson,
John Murray, Marko Petric, Jeremy Rogers and Simon
Rogers.
Following the presentations a finger
buffet and refreshments were provided, courtesy
of the Portaferry Hotel.
The Lord-Lieutenant,
Brian Lindsay, is introduced to lifeboat and shore
crew by Brian Bailie, Portaferry Lifeboat Station's
'Lifeboat Operations Manager'




Marko Petric, Billy Ellison and
Jackie Harris

Brian Bailee, LOM,
introduces fund-raisers, crew family members and
guests


Jonathan Brownlee,
Station Lifeboat Training Co-ordinator, was one
of those
presented with a Queen's
Diamond Jubilee Medal whilst one of his daughters
watched in the background and applauded her Dad.

David Russell, Chairman of the
station's 'Lifeboat Management Group', expressed
the Station's thanks to the Lord-Lieutenant ,
David Lindsay, for presenting the Queen's Diamond
Jubilee Medals

All Photos: RNLI
- Jim Brown
Portaferry
Lifeboat crew and shore helpers took time out
to have a photograph with with their colleague
Tommy Mason (front centre),
a recently retired crew member (RNLI
Gold service badge with Bar) and
an ardent fund-raiser for the station over many
years.

Tommy Mason (centre)
with old colleagues, Jim Brown
(past Station President and
former Station Co-ordinating Chairman) and
Liz Brown (past
member and a former Chair of Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild)
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12 September
2012
'Chill at the Mill' raises £1,640.60
for the RNLI
Dorothy and Gerald McKeating host
an annual 'Chill at the Mill' party at their home
in County Down in aid of local charities. This
year their chosen charity was the RNLI.
Gerald McKeating said that this
year's party in August, organised for family and
friends, would not have been such a success were
it not for the kind donations from local tradesmen
and the musicians who entertained everyone throughout
the evening. As well as an excellent Bar-B-Q,
the funds raised were further enhanced by a tombola
and a raffle.
On Thursday 12th September Dorothy
and Gerald McKeating visited Portaferry Lifeboat
Station to present a cheque to the RNLI for the
monies raised by their charity event. Tommy
Mason, a former lifeboat crew member with over
30 years service, accepted the donation of £1,640.60
on behalf of the RNLI.

Photo: RNLI - Mike
Miall
Tommy Mason, from Portaferry RNLI
Lifeboat Station, receives a cheque to the RNLI
for £1,640.60 from Dorothy and Gerald McKeating
and their family.

Photo: RNLI - Mike
Miall
Some of the many who supported the 'Chill at
the Mill' fundraising event for the RNLI

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Mike Miall (centre),
Vice-Chairman of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild, with Gerald and Dorothy McKeating during
their 'Chill at the Mill' fundraising event
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8
August 2012
Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club
'Lifeboat Day' -
8 August 2012
sponsored by the
Progressive
Building Society
raised
£3,342 for the RNLI
Results
Gents
1st: John Dynes
- 30 points (Captain, Kirkistown Castle GC)
2nd: Lewis Dickinson
- 38 points - better back 9 (Kirkistown Castle GC)
3rd: Raymond Craig
- 38 points (Edenmore GC)
Ladies
1st: Heather Patterson
- 36 points - better back 9 (Edenmore GC)
2nd: Marie McGratten
- 36 points (Kirkistown Castle GC)
3rd: Sandra Davis
- 34 points (Dunmurry GC)
Front Nine
- Herbie Taylor - 24 points
Back Nine
- N Warnock - 20 points - count back
Team Prizes
Gents - The Max
Team
Ladies - Margaret
Patsy Team
Mixed - Taylor
& Warnock
Thanks to everyone
who tee'd off and helped make the 'Lifeboat Day'
such a success.
&
a BIG thank-you
to Billy Rogan (Event Organiser) and the
Captain, Lady Captain and Council of Kirkistown
Castle Golf Club for a great fun and fund-raising
day.
Mrs
Eveleigh Brownlow,
President of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild, presented the prizes.
(All photos: RNLI - Pat Browne)










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Church
members raise £2,000
Church members from the parishes of
Greyabbey, Kircubbin and of Ballyphillip & Ardquin
have raised the magnificent sum of £2,000
for the RNLI as the result of their 'Passover Dinner'
and 'Lenten Appeal'.

Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow, President of
Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild, receives
a cheque for £2,000 from Rev Gill Withers
during an 'open evening' in Portaferry Lifeboat
Station. Included in the picture are Mrs Pat
Browne, Chairman of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild and members from the three parishes
Portaferry Lifeboat Guild was tasked
to raise £4,000 for the 'Lifejackets for Lifesavers
Appeal' and with the support of the local community,
churches, sailing clubs and other organisations
has now more than exceeded this target. The
additional monies raised will be used to purchase
lifejackets for other Lifeboat Stations that are
located in remote locations in very small communities
who are unable to raise sufficient funds.
Photo: RNLI - Mike
Mial
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Orange
Order funds two 'Lifejackets for Lifesavers'
Members of the Orange Order have raised
sufficient funds to purchase two of the new lifejackets
that have been specifically designed for use by
RNLI crew members.

Leonard Lawson, DLA, and Mrs Pat Browne,
Chairman of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild
welcome representatives of the Orange Order to Portaferry
RNLI Lifeboat Station who raised funds to purchase
new lifejackets designed for use by RNLI crew members.
Photo: RNLI - Mike
Miall
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Daryl
Birkett receives the 'Thanks of the RNLI'

Daryl Birkett receives a Portaferry
Branch 'Certificate of Thanks' from Frances Black
Photo: RNLI - Colin
Watson
RNLI Salutation: Dr Daryl Anne Birkett
- Portaferry Branch Certificate of Thanks
"Daryl Birkett has helped Portaferry
Lifeboat Guild for almost 20 years since she came
to work at Queens University Marine Biology Station.
She is the star of the Easter collection at the
Ferry boat queues, working longer hours than most
despite being a very busy person. She also helps
out at other events, such as the Gig at the Brig
last year where she again demonstrated her skill
with a collecting bucket."

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
Dr Daryl Birkett, a senior member
of the research staff of the Queens University research
laboratory at Portaferry, Co Down, has received
a well deserved supporters award from the RNLI for
almost 20 years assisting in street and other collections
on behalf of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild.
Daryl is pictured above with Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild members, Mrs Pat Browne
(Chairman), Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow (President) and
Mrs Joan Peacock (Souvenir Secretary)
Daryl's certificate was presented
by the award winning Irish female singer Frances
Black during a ceremony held in The Great Hall,
Queens University Belfast, on 24 May 2012.
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13 April
2012
The 'Herbert John',
ON 825, is launched again
One of Cloughey Lifeboat Station's
historic lifeboats was launched again at Donaghadee
Marina earlier today.
The now magnificently restored RNLI
Liverpool Class lifeboat, the Herbert John,
ON 825, last saw service at the Cloughey Lifeboat
Station in 1952. She was stationed at Cloughey
between 1939 and 1952 and was involved in the saving
of 67 lives, many during World War II.
The restoration was carried out by
Quinton Nelson, a former crew member of the 'Donaghadee
Lifeboat'. Following sea trials the 'Herbert
John' is destined for England where she will
be used by her new owner.
(With
thanks for information supplied by Peter Alcock,
LPO and Vice President of Donaghadee Lifeboat Fund
Raising Committee: The owner of the 'Herbert John'
is Graham Mountford, a founding member of the Historic
Lifeboats Owners Association and a volunteer tractor
launch driver at Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Station)
UPDATE
from Graham Mountford to Portaferry RNLI on 20 May
2012: "ON 825 is now
here with me in Cornwall, and kept at Restronguet
Creek, one of the tributaries feeding the Falmouth
roads".
For some of the life saving history
of the 'Herbert John' please click here
or browse the Local
RNLI History section of this web site.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
The restored 'Herbert John'
at Donaghadee Marina earlier today
The bow and stern
of the Herbert John prior to launch

Photo: courtesy of
Graham Mountford

Photo: courtesy of
Graham Mountford
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4 December
2011
'Certificates
of Service' & Gold Badges for Crew Members

Left to Right
- Mark Browne, Tommy Mason, John Murray (Station
President), Jackie Harris, Brian Bailie (Lifeboat
Operations Manager) and Jonathan Brownlee.
Photo: RNLI - Graham
Edgar
Mark Browne, Thomas (Tommy)
Mason, Jackie Harris and Jonathan Brownlee have
been presented with 'Certificates of Service';
a combined total of 110 years of service to the
RNLI.
Tommy Mason has also received a Bar
to his RNLI Gold Badge for his 30 years of dedicated
service to the RNLI.
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10 August 2011
Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club
'Lifeboat Day'
sponsored by the
Progressive
Building Society
raised
£3,200 for the RNLI
Results
Winning Lady -
Debbie McMaster - Edenmore G.C.
Winning Ladies
Team - Edenmore G.C.
Winning Gent -
Gary Watson - Edenmore G.C.
Winning Gent's
Team - Edemore G.C.
Winning Mixed
Team - Donaghadee G.C.
Other prize-winners;
Marie McGratten
- Ardminnan G.C. Peter
Alcock - Donaghadee G.C.
Brian Kissock
- Bangor G.C. Tom
Andrews - Rockmount G.C.
Henni Taylor,
Patsy McGoldrick & Eamon McGrattan - Kirkistown
Castle G.C.
Thanks to everyone
who tee'd off and helped make the 'Lifeboat Day'
such a success.
Thanks also to
Darren Clarke for taking the time to send us his
best wishes for the 'Lifeboat Day'
&
a BIG thank-you
to all from Sally McCoy (Event Organiser)
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23 June 2011
Margaret Barbour receives
a 'Certificate of Thanks'

Photo: RNLI - Pat
Browne
(L to R) Mrs Eveleigh
Brownlow; President - Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild, Mrs Bernadette Rogers; Hon Secretary,
Mrs Margaret Barbour, Mr Sam Barbour,
Mr Andrew Gillespie and Mrs Pat Browne;
Chair - Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild
Margaret Barbour from Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild has received a 'Certificate
of Thanks' from the RNLI during the recent RNLI
Awards ceremony held in the Great Hall at Queen's
University, Belfast.
Margaret, who joined
Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild in 2004
and became the Guild's Assistant Secretary in 2007,
received the award for her central role in developing
a 'Buy a Brick' campaign that raised £12,000
as a part of the station's 'Boathouse Appeal Fund'
during 2009 and 2010. (The 'Boathouse
Appeal Fund' closed in 2010 having raised £119,828
towards the building of the new lifeboat station.)
Margaret was presented
with her award by the Guest of Honour, the Very
Rev Dr. Houston McKelvey, OBE, former Dean of Belfast
Cathederal.

9 April
2011
Churches
& Sunday Schools visit Portaferry RNLI

Photo: RNLI - Beni
Benstead
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat volunteers
held an open morning on Saturday, 9th April to thank
five churches in County Down for their donation
of £650 towards the crew's lifesaving work in Strangford
Lough and the surrounding area.
Church members and children from Sunday
schools had a chance to sit in the Lifeboat, trying
on lifejackets and safety helmets while learning
about the equipment onboard which is all funded
by charitable donations.

Brian Bailie, Lifeboat
Operations Manager, giving the visitors information
about the life-saving work of 'Blue Peter
V'
Photo: RNLI - Beni
Benstead
They also enjoyed a tour of the Portaferry
Lifeboat Station, officially opened last year, including
the crew changing area and the upstairs training
room with its views across Strangford Lough.
Mary Stewart and Myrtle McBride from
the First Presbyterian (Non-Subscribing) Church
in Downpatrick organised the collection earlier
this year following a special service to celebrate
300 years in their present church building. They
were joined by congregations from the Non-Subscribing
Presbyterian Churches of Ballee and Clough as well
as the Presbyterian Churches of Downpatrick and
Ardglass.

Photo: RNLI - Beni
Benstead
Chair of the Portaferry RNLI's Fund
Raising Guild, Pat Browne said "We are pleased we
could welcome so many people from the churches to
thank them for their kind support and to give them
an idea of how their money will be spent, enabling
our Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat volunteers to continue
saving lives."
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1 January 2011
Sammy Gordon appointed 'DLA'

Sammy Gordon
Photo: RNLI - Colin
Watson
Sammy Gordon has been appointed a
'Deputy Launching Authority' (DLA) of Portaferry
RNLI Lifeboat Station.
Sammy has been a crew member for
many years and until recently was one of the station's
helmsmen. He takes over the role from former DLA,
Jackie Harris, who has been appointed 'Boathouse
Manager'.
DLA's assume the operational duties
of a lifeboat station's 'Lifeboat Operations Mananger'
(LOM) in their absence and are therefore required
by the RNLI to display the same qualities of leadership
and good judgement.
Sammy joins fellow DLA, Leonard (Lenny)
Lawson, in this vital operational role.
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December
2010
Gabriel Rogers retires
Gabriel Rogers
Photo
RNLI - Colin Watson
Gabriel
Rogers has retired from Portaferry Lifeboat Station
after 30 years of service.
The
annoucement of Gabriel's retirement was given at
the 'Crew Christmas Dinner' on 17th December in
the Portaferry Hotel.
Gabriel
joined Portaferry Lifeboat Station on 1st September
1980, just a few weeks after the Station was opened
on 1st May that same year.
Gabriel's
work for the 'Station' and his help to the 'Lifeboat
Guild', in particular during the Guild's formative
years, is remembered by many.
After
announcing Gabriel's retirement, Brian Bailie (Lifeboat
Operations Manager) expressed the thanks of
the Station & the Guild and presented Gabriel
with a framed 'Certificate of Service' from the
RNLI, and in appreciation, a clock & barometer
from his fellow Crew Members.
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11th August
2010
RNLI Golf Day - Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club

Photo - Progressive
Building Sopciety
For over 15 years the Kirkistown
Castle Golf Club has supported the RNLI by making
its golf course exclusively available for one day
each year to help raise funds for the RNLI.
The Progressive Building Society,
with the help of Graeme Norris of the Wellington
Place branch, once again kindly sponsored the fundraising
event.
This year, the four-ball Stableford
event attracted 226 golfers representing some 60
teams from golf clubs around Northern Ireland, the
Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, who came
to enjoy one of Northern Ireland's best-supported
one-day golf tournaments.
The competition resulted in over
£3,600 being raised for the RNLI by the Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild.
David Peacock, event organiser, says,
"Progressive's continued support is invaluable in
helping us encourage and reward participating teams,
in this four ball Stableford competition, with a
wonderful buffet and fun prizes for coming along
to help raise much needed funds for the RNLI.
The Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild is also deeply indebted to Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club for their support for over 40 years through
various fund raising activities in the club. "The
money raised goes towards keeping the lifeboats
in operation so the RNLI can continue to help save
lives at sea.
Since opening in 1979, the Portaferry
Station has launched its lifeboats 692 times, rescuing
582 people and saving 98 lives.
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26th June 2010
RNLI Annual Awards - Billy Ellison
recognised
The RNLI Awards for 2010 were held
in the Great Hall of Queen's University, Belfast
on 26th June 2010.
Many members of Portaferry Lifeboat
Station were present to witness the new Chairman
of the RNLI, Admiral the Lord Boyce, present William
(Billy) Ellison with a RNLI Statuette & Certificate
of Service.
Billy Ellison was one of the earliest
crew members of the Portaferry Lifeboat Station
when it was established in 1980.
Billy was involved in many of the
Station's early life-saving rescues and received
the RNLI's 'Thanks on Vellum' after a daring rescue
on Strangford Lough during a severe gale. Billy's
helmsman on that occasion was Dessie Rogers who
was awarded a Bronze Medal by the RNLI for his leadership
in the rescue. (View this web site's History page)
Billy Ellison is still closely involved
with Portaferry RNLI as the station's Treasurer.

Photo:
RNLI - Colin Watson
Billy Ellison receives a Statuette
& Certificate of Service from Admiral the Lord Boyce,
Chairman of the RNLI
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5th June 2010
New Boathouse opening & 'Blue
Peter V' Naming Ceremony
On 5th June 2010 Portaferry Lifeboat
Station reached another milestone in its life-saving
history - The opening of a magnificent new Boathouse
and the naming of a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat,
'Blue Peter V'
The weather was kind for the outdoor
ceremony that began with a welcome to guests by
Mr David Russell, Chairman of Portaferry Lifeboat
Management Group.
Mr John McCauley, Council Member of
the RNLI, then gave the guests and the crowds of
spectators an outline of the achievements of the
Portaferry Lifeboat Station and expressed the thanks
of the RNLI to all those past and present who had
been involved with the Station.
Following a service of dedication,
the new Boathouse was delivered into the care of
the RNLI by Mr Leslie McConnell (a friend of
the legator, Mrs Elsie Sturgeon) and accepted
by Mr John McCauley.
BBC Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere
then delivered the new Atlantic 85 lifeboat into
the care of the RNLI.
Following acceptance by Mr John McCauley
of the new Boathouse and the Atlantic 85 into the
care of the RNLI, Mr McCauley then transferred both
into the care and safe keeping of Portaferry RNLI.
Mr Brian Bailie (Lifeboat Operations
Manager) accepted the new Boathouse and the
Atlantic 85 lifeboat into the care of Portaferry
RNLI and expressed the Station's thanks to the donors
and to the RNLI.
The ceremony was concluded with a
'Vote of Thanks' by Mrs Pat Browne, Chair of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild, who expressed the Station's
thanks to everyone, past and present, who had worked
to make such a day possible.
Andy Akinwolere then named the new
Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Blue
Peter V' after which he joined the lifeboat
crew in a launch to demonstrate the lifeboat's capabilities
to a large group of guests and spectators.
Following the ceremony guests were
invited for refreshments at the local community
centre.
All photos: Colin
Watson

RNLI Council member John McCauley
chats with Dessie Rogers, former chief helmsman
of Portaferry Lifeboat during a pre-ceremony reception.

Specially commissioned commemorative
plates were presented during a pre-ceremony reception
to Andy Akinwolere of 'Blue Peter', Miss Joan Foster,
a special guest, and to Mr Leslie McConnell, a friend
of the legator, Ms Elsie Sturgeon.

The Opening & Naming ceremony begins

Large crowds attended the new Boathouse
Opening & the 'Blue Peter
V' Naming Ceremony

Andy Akinwolere from BBC Blue Peter
hands over 'Blue Peter
V' to the RNLI

Andy Akinwolere from BBC Blue Peter
prepares to name 'Blue
Peter V'

Old & new crew members helped to make
the 'day' a great success

Brian Bailie (LOM of Portaferry Lifeboat
Station), Anna Classon (Fundraising & Communications
Manager - Ireland) and Andy Akinwolere (BBC Blue
Peter) relax after the Opening and Naming ceremonies.
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to top

1 June
2010
Boathouse Appeal Fund
Donations
total - £119,828.
Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild were set the task in 2008 of raising £75,000
towards the cost of building a new 'boathouse' in
Portaferry to house our new 'Atlantic 85' lifeboat,
'Blue Peter V', donated to the Station
by BBC 'Blue Peter'.
Thanks to the magnificent support
of the local community and beyond the members of
'Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild' have now
exceeded their expectations by raising £119,828
for the Portaferry RNLI 'Boathouse Appeal Fund'.
The following photographs illustrate
the progress throughout the construction of our
new Boathouse that will be officially openend on
5th June 2010.
Our
many thanks to everyone for your support.
2008 - THE 'Boathouse
Appeal' BEGINS
All photos: RNLI
- Portaferry

THE
CONSTRUCTION STARTS






WORK COMPLETE


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to top

27
May 2010
HRH Prince Michael of Kent presents
'Gold Badge' to Pat Browne.

Photo: RNLI
Pat Browne, Chair of Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild, has been presented with
the RNLI's 'Gold Badge' by HRH Prince Michael of
Kent during the RNLI Awards ceremony held at the
Barbican Centre, London on 27 May 2010.
Pat received her Gold Badge for over
25 years of fundraising work for the RNLI.

31 May
2009
RNLI Annual Awards
Phil Coulter was the principal
guest when several members of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild received awards for their fund-raising
work for the RNLI during the 'Annual RNLI Awards'
on 31st May 2009 at Queens University, Belfast.
All photos: RNLI -
Colin Watson

Phil Coulter presented Joan Peacock
with her Silver Badge and 'Certificate of Thanks'.
Joan has been a member of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild for many years and is currently the
Souvenir Secretary of Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild.

Phil Coulter presented Jean Keenan
with her Bronze Badge and 'Certificate of Thanks'.
Jean has been a member of Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild for many years and raises funds for
the RNLI in the fishing port of Portavogie and the
surrounding area.

Phil Coulter presented Mike Miall
with a 'Certificate of Thanks' for his help with
the 'Portaferry Boathouse Appeal'. Mike Miall joined
Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild in 2004
and is currently its Vice-Chairman.

Phil Coulter presented Shane Branniff
with a 'Certificate of Thanks' for providing premises
to house the 'Portaferry Lifeboat' during the construction
period of the new Boathouse.

Mrs Pat Browne, Chairperson of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild, presents Phil Coulter
with a RNLI pullover.
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2nd April 2009
Leonard Lawson's
interview with Karen Brown of 'Culture Northern
Ireland' about Portaferry RNLI's history

Leonard
Lawson (Deputy
Launching Authority)
Photo: RNLI - Colin
Watson
Leonard
Lawson (DLA) was interviewed by Karen Brown from
Culture Northern Ireland about the role played by
Portaferry Sailing Club and others in establishing
a RNLI Lifeboat Station in Portaferry in 1980.
Click
HERE
to read the interview
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to top

18 August
2008
Young Farmers raise
£2,500 for new Boathouse

Photo: RNLI - Beni
Benstead
Pictured in the photograph
above, from left, are: Mike Miall (Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild), Marko Petric (Lifeboat
Crew), Nelson Shanks (Co. Down Young Farmers’ Secretary),
Jonathan Brownlee (Lifeboat Crew), Ian Dunlop (Co.
Down Young Farmers’ Chairman), James Strong (Lifeboat
Crew), Emma Gibson (RNLI Area Fund Raising Manager)
and Brian Bailie (Lifeboat Operations Manager).
Young Farmers from Co. Down today
handed over £2,500 to members of the volunteer lifeboat
crew and fundraisers with the Portaferry RNLI lifeboat
station, who have launched a major £75,000 appeal
towards the cost of building a bigger station to
house their new Atlantic 85 Blue Peter lifeboat,
which is due on service next year.
Advances in technology have meant
that the brand new state of the art lifeboat will
be too long for the present boathouse, where space
is already limited, with no designated drying or
changing areas for the volunteer crew members.
The Young Farmers’ donation, following
a raft race at Newtownards Sailing Club, adds significantly
to the £4,600 raised last week by 256 golfers from
across the country at Kirkistown Castle Golf Club.
Former Lifeboat Medical Examiner (Retired)
and golf day organiser, David Peacock, said “This
is an excellent start to the appeal and the RNLI
is appreciative of all donations, great and small.”
Brian Bailie, Portaferry Lifeboat
Operations Manager added, “We are really looking
forward to getting our new boathouse and lifeboat.
The crew are very committed to the station and are
always ready to launch the lifeboat at a moment’s
notice. I hope that people will be generous with
this appeal and continue to support us in saving
lives at sea.”
Portaferry volunteer lifeboat crew
members have launched 636 times since 1980 and have
saved 95 lives, rescuing hundreds more. A simple
way that people can help is by buying a brick for
as little as £5 and donors will have their name
inscribed in a special Commemorative Book, held
at the new station. To see plans of the new station,
to buy a brick or to donate on-line, please go to
www.portaferrylifeboat.com or call the RNLI Office
on 028 9047 3665.

May 2008
Dr
David Peacock awarded the RNLI Gold Medal

Dr David Peacock has received his
RNLI Gold Medal from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
during the RNLI Presentation of Awards held at the
Barbican Centre in London.
David was the station's first Lifeboat
Medical Officer and served since the station began
operations in 1979. He retired in 2007.
David continues to organise the highly
successful annual RNLI Golf Day at Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club that has now raised many thousands of
£'s for the RNLI.

21st
January 2008
COAST REVIEW COMMITTEE
VISITS PORTAFERRY RNLI

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
The RNLI's Coast Review Committee
headed by the RNLI's Director of Operations, Michael
Vlasto, visited Portaferry Lifeboat Station on 21st
January.
Michael Vlasto (4th
right, front row) was accompanied by
several RNLI representatives from the 'review committee'
and are pictured above with crew and Portaferry
Station representatives.
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December 2007
PORTAFERRY LIFEBOAT CREW - 2007

Photo: Liam McVeigh
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9
June 2007
Volunteering
for something higher... Tommy Mason and Anne
Marie Mahon absieled down Belfast's BT Tower and
raised a fantastic £500.

Photo: RNLI
Back
to top

1st
January 2007
Gold
Awards
Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow (President of Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild) has been awarded a 'bar'
to her RNLI Gold Badge for her many years of voluntary
fundraising work for the RNLI.
Mr
John Murray (President of Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat
Station) has been awarded a RNLI Gold Badge for
his many years of service since the opening of a
trial Lifeboat Station at Portaferry in 1979 until
his retirement as the station's Lifeboat Operations
Manager in August 2006.
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to top

23
November 2006
RNLI thanks Simon Rogers and Crew
Portaferry
Lifeboat helmsman Simon Rogers is to be accorded
the RNLI's 'Thanks of the Institution on Vellum'
for his role in the saving of one person and the
following searches for the missing crew of the fishing
vessel Greenhill that sank off Ardglass,
County Down, on 19 January 2006.
His
crew, Philip Sands-Robinson, Andrew (Hugh) Edwards
and Sinead Breen will each receive Vellum certificates.
The
search and rescue operation saw one man saved by
the Portaferry Lifeboat,
'Blue Peter V', but sadly two lost their
lives after their fishing vessel sank.
In recognition
of their efforts during the long and arduous service
at night and in gale force winds the Portaferry
Lifeboat Station is to receive a Chairman’s Framed
Letter of Thanks and the recently retired Portaferry
Lifeboat Operations Manager John Murray a letter
of Appreciation signed by the Chief Executive.
Newcastle
Lifeboat Station is also receive a Letter of Appreciation
signed by the Chief Executive for their search for
the two missing fishermen.
For
further information on this rescue and the search
for the missing crew, please click here

Photo: RNLI - Colin
Watson
Helmsman
Simon Rogers pictured with his crew,
Andrew (Hugh) Edwards, Sinead Breen and Philip Sands-
Robinson.
Back
to top

15
November 2006
RNLI Chairman visits Portaferry
Admiral
Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL, Chairman of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, has visited Portaferry
RNLI Lifeboat Station accompanied by Terence Johnson,
Vice Chairman RNLI and Colin Williams, Inspector
of Lifeboats - Ireland.
During
the visit and over lunch Sir Jock Slater and his
colleagues met many of the lifeboat crew, guild
members and station officials.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Admiral
Sir Jock Slater signs the Station Log Book
witnessed by Colin Williams (Inspector of Lifeboats
- Ireland)
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to top

1
November 2006
Blue Peter
awards John Murray & Dessie Rogers Blue
Peter 'Gold Badges'.
John
Murray & Dessie Rogers have been awarded the prestigious
'Blue Peter Gold Badge' for their life-saving work
over many years by the world renowned BBC Children's
Television programme 'Blue
Peter'.
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to top

6
October 2006
JOHN MURRAY
& DESSIE ROGERS RETIRE
A
dinner marking the retirement of John Murray and
Dessie Rogers after 27 years of voluntary service
for the Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station took place
on the evening of 6th October in the Portaferry
Hotel, Portaferry, Co. Down.
John
and Dessie became members of the lifeboat crew in
1979 when a 'trial lifeboat' was established by
the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Portaferry
following representations made by Portaferry Sailing
Club and others regarding the lack of life-saving
facilities in the area.
After
successful trials the RNLI decided to open a lifeboat
station in Portaferry that became officially operational
in May 1980. Shortly afterwards John Murray
was appointed 'Station Administration Officer' and
Dessie Rogers, 'Chief Helmsman'.
In 1991
John Murray was appointed as the station's Honorary
Secretary (now re-titled Lifeboat Operation Manager)
and Dessie Rogers, having reached the retirement
age for lifeboat crew in 1996, was appointed Deputy
Lifeboat Launching Authority.
Attending
the 'Retirement Dinner' were over 20 representatives
from other RNLI lifeboat stations, Coastguards from
the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and other past
& present RNLI officials.
Colin
Williams, Inspector of Lifeboats (Ireland) presented
RNLI 'Certificates of Service' to both retirees
and thanked them for their many years of voluntary
life-saving work.
Congratulatory
messages to the retirees included two from CBBC
'Blue Peter ' through which children throughout
the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland raised
monies over many years to provide two Portaferry
'Blue Peter V' lifeboats.
Messages
received also included one from the Master & Crew
of the Commissioners of Irish Lights vessel 'Granuaile'
and past crew members from as far afield as New
Zealand.
During
the evenings festivities David Russell, Chairman
of the of station's 'Lifeboat Management Group',
announced that John Murray had been appointed the
station's 6th 'President'.
Portaferry's new 'Lifeboat Operations Manager' will
be Brian Bailie who has been the station's 'Lifeboat
Administration Officer' for many years.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Colin
Williams (centre), Inspector of Lifeboats
(Ireland)
presents framed 'Certificates of Service' to Desmond
(Dessie) Rogers (left)
and John Murray.
And
a letter of thanks from BBC 'Blue Peter'
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to top

9 August 2006
KCGC 'Lifeboat Day' raises
over £4,000
Kirkistown Castle
Golf Club once again hosted a golfing competition
in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
A turnout of 239
golfers participated in the 12th annual KCGC 'Lifeboat
Day' competition that was sponsored by the 'Progressive
Building Society'. The popular 'sell-out' event
raised over £4,000 for the RNLI.

Photo - Progressive
Building Society
Pictured
teeing off the call for entries to this year's event
at 'Kirkistown Castle Golf Club'
is Progressive Building Society's Graeme Norris
(right) with Pat Browne, Chair
of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild and Dr David
Peacock, Event Co-ordinator
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to top

8 June 2006
President of Ireland opens new RNLI headquarters
The President
of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, officially opened
the new Ireland Headquarters of the RNLI in Swords,
County Dublin.
Representatives from
all 43 lifeboat stations in Ireland were in attendance
along with supporters and staff.
Representing Portaferry
Lifeboat Station were David Russell (Chairman
of the Station Management Group), John Murray
(LOM) and John Murray Jnr (Helmsman).

Photo: RNLI
Helmsman,
John Murray Jnr, meets President Mary McAleese during
the opening ceremony.
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to top


18
May 2006
Posthumous presentation of RNLI Gold
Badge
The
late Dr William (Billy) Brown from Portaferry, Co.
Down has been remembered during the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution 'Annual Presentation of Awards'
held at the Barbican Centre, London.
Dr Brown was to have
been presented with a RNLI Gold Badge during the
ceremony but unfortunately died (aged 84) on 8th
March 2006 after a short illness.
Attending the 2006
RNLI Annual Awards ceremony in London were many
members of Dr Brown's family including his daughter
Heather, sons James and William and his brother
'Dickie' Brown.
The
posthumous presentation was made by HRH The Princess
Alexandra and received by the late Dr Brown's daughter,
Mrs Heather Kennedy
Dr 'Billy' Brown
was instrumental in the establishment of a RNLI
lifeboat station at Portaferry, Co. Down, in 1979.
He was the RNLI Station's
first Honorary Secretary and subsequently served
as Chairman and latterly as the station's President.
Billy Brown had many
interests including a love of sailing.
His mathematical
and sailing expertise helped him to design a 33ft
ocean racing yacht named 'Ruffian' that he
and his brother 'Dickie' built in 1969/70. Billy
Brown went on to design a smaller version, the 'Ruffian
23'.
Such was the popularity
of both designs for cruiser racing that over 200
yachts were built in Portaferry during the 70's
and early 80's by 'Weatherly Yachts', a company
established by Billy Brown and his brother 'Dickie'.
The most popular
model, the 'Ruffian 23', was sold throughout the
British Isles and Ireland and further afield
in places such as Hong Kong and Iceland. There are
still some active racing fleets.
Billy
Brown documented the story of 'Ruffian' in
1992. To read about the birth and fate of 'Ruffian'
click here.
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to top

8
March 2006 - It is
with deep regret that we record the death of our
esteemed President Dr William (Billy) Brown.
Obituary
- Dr Billy Brown
click here
Back
to top

December
2005
Billy Brown awarded RNLI Gold Badge

The
Royal National Lifeboat Institution has awarded
its prestigious Gold Badge to the President of Portaferry
Lifeboat Station, Dr W P (Billy) Brown, for his
outstanding services to the RNLI.
'Billy'
Brown was the main driving force in the establishment
of a lifeboat station at Portaferry in 1980. Following
successful trials in 1979 under his leadership the
new station became operational in May 1980 as an
official RNLI Lifeboat Station.
Billy
Brown was the Station's first Honorary Secretary,
an office he held until the late 1990's when he
was then appointed as Station Chairman.
In 2001
Billy was appointed Station President.
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to top

November
2005
RNLI 'Letter of Thanks'
Portaferry Lifeboat
Crew and Shore Helpers have received a 'Letter of
Thanks' for 'Devotion to Duty' for services on 11th
& 12th January 2004.
RNLI
Letter of Thanks

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to top

February 2005
Tsunami Relief
The
crew of Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', held
a 'Tsunami Relief Car Wash' in Portaferry last February
to augment funds donated by them to provide a fully
equipped fishing boat for one of the many fishermen
in Sri Lanka who lost their craft during last December's
Tsunami.
The
monies raised by the Lifeboat Crew were channeled
through the 'Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund' that was
established a few days after the Tsunami to provide
practical assistance to fishing families by funding
and co-ordinating the supply of replacement fishing
boats destroyed during the disaster.
Amanda
Hughes of the 'Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund' stated;
"Thanks to the efforts of many organisations and
the generosity of the public throughout Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, our trust fund
has now ordered 992 fishing boats from three suitable
boatyards in Sri Lanka. 630 of these vessels have
already been supplied and are currently in use around
the Tsunami affected coast of Sri Lanka".
"The
fund has already created about 300 extra jobs in
the boat construction industry and should eventually
ensure the livelihood of about 3,000 fishermen and
their families. Our fund has no administration
costs and all monies donated have been used to purchase
the fishing vessels."
Each
6-metre, fibreglass, fishing boat is supplied complete
with an outboard engine, fuel and fishing nets so
that the vessel can put to sea without any delay.
In-shore fishing in Sri Lanka normally takes
place at night and each vessel usually carries a
crew of three.
A spokesperson
on behalf of Portaferry Lifeboat Station commented;
"Our Lifeboat Crew involvement in fund-raising would
normally be solely on behalf of our own charity,
the RNLI. Because of the magnitude of this
disaster and our close links with the local fishing
community, the Lifeboat Crew felt that they would
like to provide practical assistance to one of the
fishing families in Sri Lanka who had lost their
means of income."
"Thanks
to the generosity of the local community one of
these fishing families is now 'back in business'."
Portaferry's
'Atlantic 75' lifeboat was supplied by the CBBC
children's programme 'Blue Peter' through funds
raised by children throughout the United Kingdom
and Ireland and is named 'Blue Peter V'.
In recognition,
the Lifeboat Crew have named the new fishing vessel
'Blue Peter V - Portaferry'.
Further
information about the 'Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund'
can be obtained by visiting
www.irish-srilankatrustfund.org

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Presentation
of a cheque (February 2005) to provide a fully functional
fishing boat
in Sri Lanka by Thomas Mason, Treasurer of Portaferry
Lifeboat Crew,
to Amanda Hughes of the Irish Sri Lanka Trust Fund

Photo:Irish Sri Lanka
Trust Fund
Photograph
of 'Blue Peter V - Portaferry',
following the vessel's manufacture
in Sri Lanka but prior to fitting out with equipment
Back
to top

19
May 2005
RNLI
Gold Badge for Bernadett
Rogers

Photo: RNLI
Mrs
Bernadette Rogers, Honorary Secretary of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild, has been awarded
the Royal National Lifeboat Institution prestigious
'Gold Badge' for her 25 years of voluntary work
for the RNLI.
The
award was presented by HRH The Duke of Kent, President
of the RNLI, during the institution's Annual General
Meeting held at the Barbican Centre, London, on
19 May.

26
May 2005
Marie McGee & Jonathan Brownlee
receive 'Certificate of Thanks'

Photo: RNLI
Mrs
Marie McGee has received a 'Certificate of Thanks'
from the RNLI in recognition of her voluntary work
for the institution.
Marie
is pictured above with UTV presenter, Pamela Ballentine,
who made the presentation on behalf of the RNLI
during the 'RNLI Northern Ireland Awards' ceremony
held at the Cultra Manor, Cultra, on 26 May.

Photo: RNLI
Jonathan
Brownlee, Station Training Officer and Helmsman,
has received a certificate of thanks from the RNLI
in recognition of his voluntary work for the institution.
Jonathan
is pictured above with UTV Presenter, Pamela
Ballentine, who made the presentation on behalf
of the RNLI during the 'RNLI Northern Ireland Awards'
ceremony held at the Cultra Manor, Cultra, on 26
May.
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to top

17th
February 2005
Guild raise
over £31,000 to celebrate 25th
Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild decided to raise £25,000
for the RNLI to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of
the opening of Portaferry Lifeboat Station by the
RNLI on 1st May 1980.
After
months of fundraising it was announced at the Guild's
Annual General Meeting that this target had now
been exceeded and now stands at £31,939. Several
members of the Guild that helped to raise these
monies are pictured during the Guild AGM.

Photo:
RNLI - Jim Brown
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to top

February
2005
Guyana
Flood Relief
Portaferry
Lifeboat crew member, Hugh Edwards, has just returned
from two weeks in Guyana, South America, where he
was a part of the humanitarian and Search and Rescue
(SAR) operation of the RNLI Rapid Response Unit
(RRU).
Weeks
of rain and flooding in Georgetown and surrounding
areas had made 250,000 people homeless. The RNLI
team of twenty, specially trained in swift water
rescue techniques, arrived in the capital, Georgetown,
on the 2nd February with six D class lifeboats.
The RNLI team was able to get personnel from the
Red Cross, World Food Programme and Pan-American
Health Organisation into the more inaccessible and
remote flooded areas to assess the situation and
to provide assistance. Prior to returning home,
the RRU trained members of the Guyanese Coastguard
in lifeboat rescue techniques. The six 'D' class
lifeboats were also handed over to the Guyanese
Coastguard to help in future flood relief and rescue
operations.

Members
of the RNLI SAR Team ready to board an Antonov cargo
plane to Georgetown,
Guyana. (Hugh Edwards pictured far right)
Photo:
RNLI - Hugh Edwards

Hugh
Edwards (top right) pictured with children from
Mahaica, Guyana.
Photo: RNLI - Hugh
Edwards
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to top

16th February
2005
Tsunami
Fund Raising
Portaferry Lifeboat
Crew has raised sufficient funds within two weeks
through their recent 'Tsunami Car Wash' and other
donations to assist them in purchasing a fishing
boat in Sri Lanka that will be donated to one of
those fishermen who lost their craft during last
December's 'Tsunami'. It is to be supplied complete
with fishing nets, a 25-hp outboard motor and sufficient
fuel so that the fisherman can put to sea immediately
after receipt so as to provide an income as soon
as possible to support his family and himself.
The fishing boat
is to be named 'Blue Peter
V Portaferry'

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
RNLI
Presentation of Tsunami cheque . Mrs Amanda Hughes,
Fund Raising Co-ordinator of the Irish Sri-Lanka
Trust Fund, receives a cheque to purchase the fishing
boat, 'Blue Peter V - Portaferry', from Thomas Mason,
Crew Fund Treasurer of Portaferry Lifeboat Station,
accompanied by several members of the station's
crew.
Back
to top

11
Dec 2004
'Nautical'
Walk
A 15
Nautical Mile Walk raises £3,884 for the RNLI
Jonathan
Brownlee, Training Officer and Helmsman, assisted
by Francis Arthurs raised £3,884 for the RNLI during
a 15 Nautical Mile walk.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Jonathan
(centre) is pictured handing over the monies raised
to the
Treasurer of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild,
Capt Eddie McGee (left).
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to top

5th
November 2004
25th Anniversary Ball
Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild held their 25th Anniversary Ball
on 5th November 2004 and raised £3,513 for the RNLI.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Pictured
at the Anniversary Ball are Owen Medland (DDI Ireland),
Mrs Pat Browne (Chairman - Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild), Nigel Ringland (principal guest),
Mrs Eveleigh Brownlow (President - Portaferry &
District Lifeboat Guild) and Mr John Murray (Lifeboat
Operations Manager).
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to top

June
2004
BBC Bargain Hunt
The BBC recently
recorded its first 'BBC Bargain Hunt' programme
in Northern Ireland with two competing teams from
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station.
During the recordings
Simon Rogers (Helmsman) and Philip Robinson (Crew
Member) represented the Lifeboat Station's 'Red
Team' and Hugh Edwards (Crew Member) and Mike Miall
(Member of Portaferry & District Lifeboat Guild)
the 'Blue Team'.
The well-known presenter
David Dickinson was assisted by antique experts
Adam Partridge and Charles Hanson.
The programme was
broadcast by the BBC on 23rd June and was watched
by an estimated 4.5 million viewers.

Photo:
RNLI - Jim Brown
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to top

26th
May 2004
RNLI Chairman visits 'Portaferry'
Peter Nicholson
CBE (Chairman RNLI) and his wife (Lesley-Jane) visited
Portaferry Station accompanied by Mr Terrence Johnson
(Chairman - RNLI Committee of Management - Ireland)
and Owen Medland (DDI Ireland).

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Mr
Terrence Johnson signs the 'visitors book' witnessed
by Mr John Murray LOM and
Mr Peter Nicholson CBE, Chairman RNLI.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Mrs
Lesley-Jane Nicholson enjoys a discussion with Portaferry
crew member Lynn Browne
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to top

27th
May 2004
Jim Brown receives a 'Certificate of Thanks'
Jim Brown from Ballywalter has retired as the
'Co-ordinating Chairman' of Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat
Station and has received a framed 'Certificate of
Thanks' from the RNLI.
David
Russell from Portaferry has been appointed by the
RNLI as his successor.

David Russell is the new Chairman
of the newly formed 'Portaferry Lifeboat Management
Group'
Jim
Brown joined the team at Portaferry Lifeboat Station
in 1992 shortly after his wife (Liz) retired
as Chair of the Portaferry & District Lifeboat
Guild.
In
1996 Jim shared the newly introduced office of 'Lifeboat
Press Officer' with crew member John Devlin.
In
1998 Jim was appointed the station's 4th President.
In
2000 Jim was appointed by the RNLI for a 3 year
term as the station's 'Co-ordinating Chairman',
a new role then being trialled by the RNLI in a
few lifeboat stations. This new office was established
by the RNLI to co-ordinate the operational and fund-raising
activities within RNLI lifeboat stations. Dr
Billy Brown, then the Station Chairman, was appointed
President.
Jim
will continue to help as the Station's press officer
until a new Lifeboat Press Officer is appointed.

Photo: RNLI - Colin
Watson
Jim
Brown (right) past Station President and retiring
Co-ordinating Chairman receives a 'Certificate of
Thanks' from the RNLI from Peter Nicholson, Chairman
of the RNLI.
Prior
to Jim's involvement with the RNLI he served as
Chairman of the Royal Yachting Association's Northern
Ireland Council, having previously been its Honorary
Secretary for a period of 8 years. During
this period he was appointed for a 3 year term to
the RYA's UK Council when he also served on the
RYA's Development Committee.
Jim
is a former Honorary Secretary of the Association
of Strangford Lough Yacht Clubs. He was appointed
by the Secetary of State for Northern Ireland to
represent the RYA and that of local sailing interests
at the founding of the Strangford Lough Management
Advisory Committee.
Jim
also served as an ex-officio member of the Council
of the Irish Yachting Association (now re-named
the Irish Sailing Association) and on other
advisory committees such as the User Consultative
Committee of the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
Jim
is the former Principal of a college that trained
Radio Officers for the Merchant Navy and the Diplomatic
Wireless Service. He subsequently became involved
in the design and modification of coronary equipment
for use the world's first Cardiac Ambulance, first
envisaged by Dr Frank Pantridge of the Royal Victoria
Hospital, Belfast. He continued to design
and build central monitoring stations for many of
the first Coronary Care and Intensive Care units
in Northern Ireland prior to becoming involved in
the formation of a medical electronics company.
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21
June 2003
Queen's Jubilee
Medal
The
Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Colonel W Hall,
visited the station on 21st June 03 and presented
the Queen's Jubilee Medal to seventeen members of
the crew.
The
presentation was further enhanced by the presence
of the Mayor of Ard's Borough Council, Councillor
J McBriar. Both are pictured above after the presentations
with the awardees, guild members and station officials.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
Phil
Heath (former helmsman) received his
Queen's Jubilee Medal from John Murray (Hon Secretary)
during a recent
visit to Portaferry from his home in New Zealand
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Services
2002
During the year 2002, Portaferry Lifeboat was launched
on service 27 times saving 2 lives. In addition,
25 persons were brought ashore whose lives were
at risk and a further 7 persons before they were
at risk.
Two
craft were also saved and a further eight were escorted
to safety.
The
lifeboat was also launched on a further 5 occasions
but was not required to assist.
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28
January 2003
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland visits
the Station

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
The
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon
Paul Murphy MP, is pictured (right) with Station
Honorary Secretary, John Murray, during a visit
to the station.
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14
August 2002
RNLI
Golf Day at Kirkistown Golf Club.
Over 200 golfers
took part in the annual event which raised approx.
£3,500 for the RNLI.
Since the RNLI Golf
Day was first started by Portaferry & District Guild
members, Terry and Joan Burrows, it has now raised
in excess of £20,000 for the RNLI.
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June
2002
RNLI
Awards
Leah
Bradshaw, Lifeboat Shop Secretary, receiving her
Silver Badge and Certificate for her fund raising
work from Pam Rhodes at the NI RNLI Awards Ceremony.

Photo:
RNLI
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8
May 2002 - James Fitzsimmons receiving a Certificate
of Service for 16 years as Station Tractor Driver
from television presenter and Member of the RNLI
Committee of Management, Pam Rhodes, at the NI RNLI
Awards ceremony held in Belfast on 8th may 2002.

Photo:
RNLI
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21
April 2002
Exercise
with HM Coastguard & the Strangford Ferry
An
exercise took place with the Strangford Ferry, (the
new 'Portaferry II') that involved the evacuation
of several 'volunteer passengers' by helicopter
and lifeboat.
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Preparing
for the exercise
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Liferaft
launch for recovery by ferry's tender
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Photos RNLI - Jim
Brown
'Got Ya'

Who's this guy -
recognise him?
Yes - its Colin Watson, the RNLI's
well known photographer, dressed for all weathers
and, for a change, he was caught by us on camera.
Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
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May
21st 2002
Newtownards Round Table
visit the Station
Newtownards Round Table members visited the station
and presented a donation of £1,500.00 for the RNLI.

Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown
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17 May
2001
Mrs
Eveleigh Brownlow, President of Portaferry
& District Lifeboat Guild, receives a Gold
Badge from HRH The Duke of Kent, President
of the RNLI,during the RNLI Annual General
Meeting held at the Barbican Centre, London
on 17th May 2001. The award was made in recognition
of over 36 years dedication to fund-raising
for the RNLI.
Photo: RNLI
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Kirkistown Castle Golf Club receives
thanks
Mr Peter
Nicholson, Chairman of the RNLI, presents
a Scroll of Thanks to Mrs Daphne Molyneaux,
Ladies President, and Mr Kenneth Thornton,
Mens President of Kirkistown Castle Golf Club
during the RNLI Awards ceremony held at the
Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast on 9th May
2001. The Scroll of Thanks was presented to
Kirkistown Castle Golf Club in recognition
for over 40 years of fundraising for the RNLI.
Photo:
RNLI
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Terrence & Joan Burrowes are
thanked for their fund raising
Mr Peter
Nicholson, Chairman of the RNLI, presents
a Certificate of Thanks to Portaferry & District
Lifeboat Guild committee members, Terrence
and Joan Burrowes, during the RNLI Awards
ceremony held in Belfast on 9th May 2001.
TheCertificate of Thanks was awarded for their
work over many years in organising the Annual
RNLI Golf Day held at Kirkistown Castle Golf
club.
Photo:
RNLI
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1st
May 2001
21st
Birthday
Portaferry Lifeboat
Station was officially established 21 years ago
on 1st May 1980. Since that time the station has
responded to several hundred incidents and saved
many lives. In addition, many vessels have been
taken or escorted to safe waters.
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2nd
March 2001
RNLI receives the 'Freedom
of the Borough of Ards'.

Ards Borough Council has granted the 'Freedom of
the Borough of Ards' to the RNLI in recognition
of 175 years of saving life at sea and the Borough's
association with the RNLI since 1866 when the first
lifeboat station in the area was established at
Ballywalter, Co. Down.

Representatives
from the crew and the guild from Donaghadee and
Portaferry Lifeboat stations attended the ceremony
as did two of the last surviving members of the
old Cloughey/Portavogie lifeboat station.
The
Mayor of the Borough of Ards, Mr T Hamilton MLA,
presented the certificate on vellum conferring the
Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon the RNLI to
the RNLI Chief Executive, Mr Andrew Freemantle.
Also
presented to the RNLI was a silver replica of a
prominent landmark, Scrabo Tower**,
which overlooks much of the Borough of Ards.
Reciprocating
the gesture Mr Freemantle, RNLI Chief Executive,
presented the Mayor with a suitably inscribed ship's
bell.
Following
the ceremony a luncheon was held at which expressions
of thanks were conveyed to and from the RNLI.

Photo: The Newtownards
Chronicle

Mr
Andrew Freemantle, RNLI Chief Executive, addressing
Aldermen,
Councillors and guests at the ceremony conferring
the
Freedom of the Borough of Ards on the RNLI
Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown

Crew
from the Donaghadee and Portaferry lifeboat stations
pictured with
the Mayor of Ards Borough Council, Councillor Tom
Hamilton MLA,
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Margaret Craig and Mr Andrew
Freemantle, RNLI Chief Executive.
Photo: RNLI - Jim
Brown

Jim Brown (President
Portaferry RNLI), Deputy Mayor, Councillor Margaret
Craig, Mr Andrew Fremantle, RNLI Chief Executive,
Mayor of Ards Borough Council, Councillor Tom Hamilton
MLA, and Mr John Murray, Honorary Secretary of Portaferry
Lifeboat Station
Photo:The Newtownards
Chronicle
**Note:
Scrabo Tower stands high on a steep hill of volcanic
rock overlooking the town of Newtownards and is
visible from most of North Down. It was built
in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess
of Londonderry, who was one of the Duke of Wellington's
generals during the Napoleonic Wars. Mount
Stewart (the former home of Charles Stewart) and
its gardens are now open to the public through the
National Trust. Please click here
for further information.
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2 June 2000

December
2000
During
the last 12 months provisional service statisitcs
for Portaferry Lifeboat Station indicate that:
4 lives
were saved
3 Persons
were landed who's life was at risk
10 persons
were brought in before they were at risk
In addition,
2 craft were saved and 4 craft were landed

June 1999
Strangford Lough Yacht Club and
Quoile Yacht Club make donations to RNLI
15 February 1999


For the earlier history
of Portaferry Lifeboat since 1979 click here
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