New lifeboat named at Teddington RNLI lifeboat station

On Saturday 2 September, Teddington RNLI lifeboat station welcomed around 175 guests to celebrate the naming of their new D Class lifeboat, the 'Alderman Penny Shelton'.

Local resident Hilary Saw donated the lifeboat in memory of her sister Penny who passed away in 2021. Two other D Class lifeboats, the Olwen and Tom and the Peter Saw, named after Hilary’s parents and her late husband, were also generously donated to Teddington RNLI by Hilary in the past.

The ceremony opened with the presentation of the lifeboat to Matt Allchurch, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Teddington, as well as 27 members of the volunteer crew. The Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Suzette Nicholson, also attended the ceremony.

There was musical entertainment from the Landmark Singers, Landmark Sound, and Man Song community choirs.

The boat was welcomed with speeches by outgoing chair Tim Ody and incoming chair Paul Corbin.

Local emergency services and local Sea Cadets were in attendance at the naming ceremony. The out-going boat, Olwen and Tom is retiring after 12 years, attending 487 incidents. It is credited with assisting 83 people and saving nine lives. It will now be converted to an electric D Class - before being returned to Teddington for trials. Teddington will be the first station to test an electric lifeboat.

Find out more information about the event.