Today’s the day - a very hot day. The naming ceremony of the ‘Peter Saw’, lifeboat D-785 which was donated by Hilary Saw and named in memory of Hilary’s late husband. The new D-class is specifically designed for the Thames, and will partner its sister lifeboat, D-743 ‘Olwen and Tom’, also donated by Peter and Hilary Saw in December 2010 and named after her parents Gwladys Olwen Martin and Thomas Frederick Shelton.
The ceremony was lead by Tim Ody the Teddington Lifeboat Station Manager. Charles Hunter-Pease the Chairman of the RNLI attended and the blessing was made by the Reverend Joe Moffatt of St Mary with St Albans church.
The highlight of the day was Hilary officially naming D-785 the ‘Peter Saw’ by pouring over a bottle of spring water over the bow as her husband was teetotal so champagne was not appropriate! Everyone was invited to join in the naming by calling out “We name this lifeboat Peter Saw”.
This is the crew of the ‘Peter Saw’ on it’s first inaugural ‘dip’ in the river following the naming ceremony. Today was also the first time that I have taken and used both cameras (my usual 5D Mk 3 and also my old 50D) so that both my 24-70mm and 70-200mm would be at the ready for a mix of shots.
