Littlehampton RNLI to bid farewell to Ray of Hope

Littlehampton RNLI’s much-loved D-769 lifeboat, Ray of Hope, is retiring from the lifeboat station next week.

Ray of Hope has kept people safe on the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Worthing and Bognor Regis since 7 July 2014. After 11 years of rescues and training exercises, the lifeboat will be retired to the RNLI’s relief fleet.

The lifeboat’s first shout was on 17 July 2014 - to assist a person aboard a dinghy. Since then, Ray of Hope has launched 212 times.

Nick White, Littlehampton RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘D-Class lifeboats like Ray of Hope are known as the workhorses of the RNLI. They’re highly manoeuvrable, have a speed of up to 25 knots (28 mph) and can operate close to shore. Ray of Hope helped our lifeboat station navigate the harbour at low tide and enabled our crew to reach casualties in difficult locations and in shallow waters. We all have very fond memories of Ray of Hope, and we will miss her.’

Memorable shouts over the years include the successful search and rescue of a missing person who had entered the water near Goring (July 2021) and the rescue of a dog called Robbie who had accidentally fallen into the River Arun near Littlehampton Pier (May 2020).

Mark Nicholls, Littlehampton RNLI helm, said: ‘Ray of Hope will always be special to me. I was aboard Ray of Hope for my first shout as trainee crew and qualified as helm aboard her in December last year. I’ll also never forget one shout in July 2022 when we were tasked to assist a broken down speed boat and jet ski. While we were towing them into Littlehampton Harbour, we found two swimmers who were in desperate need of our help, so we were able to save them too.’

Ray of Hope was generously funded by Ray and Val Humby, from Kent. They said: ‘As we say goodbye to Ray of Hope, we’re thankful that she’s served the volunteer crew of Littlehampton RNLI well in their mission to save everyone. Let’s not forget that she is one in a long and remarkable history of lifeboats that have served the RNLI. There will continue to be a need for more sophisticated lifeboats and resources into the future.’

Ray of Hope will be replaced by new D-Class lifeboat Spirit of Fidelity next week. The lifeboat will serve Littlehampton’s local waters alongside Littlehampton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat Renee Sherman.

ENDS

RNLI media contacts

Beth Brooks, Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI

07544 209256 [email protected]

Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager, SE & London

07724 801305 [email protected]

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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