Alderney says farewell to lifeboat after 30 years

The Roy Barker I lifeboat has served Alderney for 30 years

Alderney residents and emergency services turned out to say farewell to the island's outgoing lifeboat with a display of lights and sirens, after it was retired from service after 30 years.

The Roy Barker I, which has been Alderney's main lifeboat since 1994, is sailing to the RNLI headquarters in Poole accompanied by some of Alderney's longest-serving lifeboat crew.

The lifeboat has been replaced by an all-weather Trent Class lifeboat, named the Inner Wheel II, which arrived on the island last Tuesday.

Margaret Storer, chair of Alderney's Lifeboat Guild, said: "The final send-off was very emotional watching our lifeboat of 30 years commence on her onward journey to pastures new."

"So long, farewell, it's been good to know you," Ms Storer said.

Retired coxswain Steve Shaw said: "As Alderney's first lifeboat Coxswain it was an honour and privilege to bring the Roy Barker I into service."

Mr Shaw said it had been "wonderful to see the lifeboat and its crew evolving as technology and training advanced", adding: "I wish the new boat and her crew Godspeed".

The Roy Barker I is one of three Trent Class lifeboats named after a Welsh business owner who left his entire estate to the RNLI in 1992.

Mr Barker was the only son of a Welsh farming family and moved to the Channel Islands in 1974 after selling his agricultural business - where he became involved with the RNLI.

The Roy Barker I's replacement, the RNLI Inner Wheel II, was previously in service at Barry Docks and has been used as a relief boat in many areas.

It was named after international women's organisation Inner Wheel, who donated the lifeboat to the RNLI in 2000.