New RNLI lifeboat named in memory of a beloved wife

Clifden RNLI to name new inshore lifeboat ‘Joyce King’ in memory of a beloved wife


A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Clifden RNLI is to be officially named Joyce King during a ceremony at the lifeboat station in the Connemara town at 2pm on Saturday, November 9.  The lifeboat which went on service in June was funded by a legacy from the late John Charles King in memory of his wife Joyce.
John from Lincolnshire in England passed away in 2009 and expressed a wish that a gift in his will would be used to purchase an inshore lifeboat named after his wife, Joyce.
John and Joyce both worked for The Electricity Board, and it’s not known where John’s RNLI support stemmed from.
Mr King’s wish to have a lifeboat named in memory of his wife Joyce will be granted when Jackie O’Grady, Chairman of the Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Management Group officially names the lifeboat at the station next Saturday.
John Brittain, Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘This is a very special occasion for our lifeboat station and we are most grateful to the late John King for his generous legacy which has funded this lifeboat, Joyce King.  Since the lifeboat went on service earlier this year, it has had seven call outs and brought 22 people to safety. The station also has a D Class inshore lifeboat and in the near future an all-weather lifeboat will be going on a year’s trial here. This is a challenging part of the coastline and the new Atlantic 85 lifeboat will assist our volunteer crew as they go about their lifesaving work.”
The RNLI established a lifeboat station in Clifden in early 1988 when a C class lifeboat was put on service for one season’s evaluation. The following year Clifden RNLI became fully operational as a summer season only lifeboat station.
In 1992 part of a building used for housing the lifeboat was demolished and a new purpose built building was constructed in order to provide adequate facilities for the lifeboat and crew. As well as providing an area for the C class lifeboat and launching vehicle, it included a workshop and crew facilities.
In 1997, an Atlantic 21 lifeboat was placed on service and a new boathouse for the lifeboat and a tractor was completed in August 1998.
A new Atlantic 75 B class lifeboat was placed on service in 1999 where it remained stationed until June when it was replaced by the Atlantic 85.
The new lifeboat, an Atlantic 85 is the latest version of the B class, introduced into the fleet in 2005. She is powered by two 115horsepower engines and has a stronger hull and greater top speed than her predecessor. The added radar allows the crew to operate more effectively in poor visibility and she also has VHF direction-finding equipment.
The vessel also has a manually operated self-righting mechanism which combined with inversion-proofed engines keep the lifeboat operational even after capsize. The lifeboat can also be beached in an emergency without causing damage to its engines or steering gear.
The Atlantic 85 carries a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids, as well as a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares for night-time operations. The RNLI is a charity which relies on voluntary contributions and legacies.