Teignmouth’s new inshore lifeboat was officially named in a service of dedication on Saturday (June 7).

The B-Class Atlantic 85, the Claude and Kath, was funded by a legacy from Miss Jean Stevenson, who requested that the boat be named after her parents to honour their dedicated volunteering and fundraising efforts for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). Jean, who lived in Chesterfield and passed away in 2019, was a long-term supporter.

Additional funds were provided by the legacy of Joan Eileen Kenney, who lived in Dorset, in memory of her late husband John Kenney.

‘The RNLI is funded entirely by generous donations from the public and we couldn’t continue our work without generous donations like this one,’ said lifeboat management group chair Deborah Welland as she opened the service. ‘We’re grateful to Jean Stevenson for her generous, in memory of her parents, who loved the sea and supported the RNLI throughout their lives.’

Despite the torrential rain, the service saw Mark Dowie CBE, deputy lieutenant for Devon and RNLI vice president, hand over the lifeboat to the care of the RNLI on behalf of Miss Stevenson.

RNLI head of region Adrian Carey accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the RNLI and passed it to Teignmouth Lifeboat station’s head of operations Andy Lilburn.

‘Today is a special day for all of us here at Teignmouth as we celebrate Atlantic 85 lifeboat Claude and Kath,’ Andy commented.

Reverend Prebendary Jane Chamberlain led a service of dedication and blessing of the Claude and Kath before the new lifeboat was officially named by Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, acting on behalf of the main donor, Miss Stevenson.

Lord Clifford’s daughter, Georgina, completed the naming by christening the Claude and Kath with a bottle of champagne.

Guests were then able to see the Claude and Kath in action as it launched into the River Teign for a short demonstration.

‘Despite the less-than-ideal weather, spirits were high, a true reflection of the fantastic camaraderie and resilience of the Teignmouth RNLI family,’ a spokesperson from Teignmouth RNLI commented after the dedication and blessing. ‘The event was particularly special for our volunteers and their families, marking a milestone in the station’s lifesaving mission,’ the spokesperson added.

The Claude and Kath arrived at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station last November. She replaced The Two Annes, which had been stationed at Teignmouth for 18 years. Volunteer crew launched on the boat’s first rescue mission on December 20.

During her tenure at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station, The Two Annes was launched 1,227 times, assisting 823 people and saving 22 lives.

So far in 2025, the Claude and Kath has been launched to 17 call outs.

The 8.5m rigid inflatable (RIB) Claude and Kath has a top speed of 35 knots and is one of the fastest boats in the RNLI fleet. It is designed to operate in shallow water and is ideal for rescues close to shore or near cliffs and rocks which the RNLI’s larger, all-weather lifeboats find more difficult to access. However, B-Class lifeboats are equally able to handle challenging open-sea conditions and can operate in force 7 near gale winds in daylight and force 6 winds at night.