The Leicester Fox was the fifth Skegness Inshore Lifeboat since
1964. She arrived at Skegness for the summer of 1994 and was
officially named on the 30th October 1994.
The Skegness ILB Leicester Fox on exercise.
Photo: Ben Hardaker The 4.9m inflatable boat was funded
entirely by the people of Leicester through an appeal by the very
hard-working Leicester branch of the RNLI during 1993/94. The naming
ceremony, held inside the boathouse due to rain and strong winds,
allowed the committee of Leicester branch to see the result of all
their hard work. Derek Young, chairman of Leicester branch,
handed the boat to the RNLI before she was handed to the Station by
Commandant Vonla McBride CB BA (Vice President of the RNLI Committee
of Management). The boat was then named Leicester Fox Mrs C
Young, followed by a launch to demonstrate the boat's capabilities.
The Leicester Fox was launched hundreds of times before being
retired to the relief fleet in February 2002. She saved dozens of
lives and assisted hundreds more. The boat may have moved on, but
she will always be remembered especially following the decision to
name Skegness' new ILB Leicester Fox II.
|
Technical Details >>
D-class lifeboat |
Length:
4.9m (16ft)
Beam:
2m (6ft 7in)
Engines:
1 x Mariner outboard
Horsepower:
1 x 40hp
Max Speed:
20 knots
Range @ full speed:
> 3 hrs
Construction:
Nylon coated with Hypalon
Introduced: 1963
Last built: current
Cost New:
£14,000 (2001)
Crew: 2/3
|
|
|
