A WARMINSTER man had the honour of formally naming a new lifeboat for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on Saturday, September 10.

Peter Lee was invited to name the lifeboat which is on service at Littlehampton RNLI lifeboat station as he was close friends with the couple that funded it.

Mr Lee poured champagne over the lifeboat and officially named her Renée Sherman, in a ceremony attended by friends, volunteer lifeboat crew members, and other members of the local community.

The 93-year-old said: “I first met Renée and Jack through the local rotary club in Warminster, and we all became very good friends.

“My own wife passed away nine years ago and they were really good company. When Jack died Renée and I became even closer and some weeks we would meet for lunch five or six times a week.

“I am pleased she took my advice and requested the lifeboat be named after her. Even though it was Jack’s wish to leave some money to the RNLI, because she outlived him I felt it was right that she be remembered in that way.

“It was very nice to be invited to Littlehampton station and a real honour to name the lifeboat. I’ve never done anything like this before and it’s a fitting tribute to my dear friend.”

The new lifeboat replaced the station’s old inshore lifeboat, which reached the end of its operational life earlier this year.

That lifeboat, named Blue Peter 1, was funded by viewers of the popular children’s television show of the same name, and was the third lifeboat funded by viewers of the programme.

Nick White, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Littlehampton RNLI lifeboat station, said: “Renée was a very cultured lady, with a love of books and literature, and she was interested in the work of various charities.

“She was always very generous and thought highly of the RNLI.”