RAIN didn’t deter the great and the good in Teignmouth from popping down to the town’s Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) station on Saturday (November 30) to visit the new lifeboat.

The Claude and Kath was brought out of the boat house to allow visitors to take a closer look at the new B-Class Atlantic 85 rigid inflatable lifeboat (RIB). And youngsters were able to climb on board and imagine what it must feel like to head out to see to save lives.

RNLI volunteers provided plenty of hot drinks and cakes to help raise additional funds for the charity, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

The Claude and Kath arrived in Teignmouth earlier this month to replace The Two Annes, which has been retired after serving for 18 years at RNLI Teignmouth. The new lifeboat was primarily funded by a legacy gift from Jean Stevenson in memory of her parents Claude and Kath with additional donations from the legacy of Joan Kenney.

Teignmouth RNLI open boat house to let the public meet the new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath. Two year old Rafa Mole with mum and lifeboat crew member Rosie Alterman
Two year old Rafa Mole with mum and lifeboat crew member Rosie Alterman (Steve Pope/MDA)
Teignmouth RNLI open boat house to let the public meet the new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath
Teignmouth’s new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath (Steve Pope/MDA)
Teignmouth RNLI open boat house to let the public meet the new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath
Teignmouth’s new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath (Steve Pope/MDA)
Teignmouth RNLI open boat house to let the public meet the new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath
All points head to - Teignmouth’s new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath (Steve Pope/MDA)