CHRISTMAS has come early for New Quay RNLI who have received official confirmation that their new Shannon-class lifeboat will arrive next year.

The vessel they and RNLI supporters fought so hard for will be named Roy Barker V, in recognition of a gift from Roy Barker, a wealthy Lincolnshire farmer-turned-yachtsman who retired to Jersey.

It will mark the end of a remarkable public campaign which succeeded in reversing the RNLI's original decision to remove the county’s only all-weather lifeboat.

Mr Barker left his entire estate to the RNLI, with the request the income received from the fund be known as the Roy Barker Memorial Fund.

It has already funded three Trent class lifeboats at Alderney in the Channel Islands, Wick in Scotland, and Howth in the Republic of Ireland together with a Tamar class lifeboat at Mumbles in south Wales.

Today's news is the realisation of a dream for the New Quay crew who are very much looking forward to seeing the technologically-advanced £2.5m lifeboat introduced on station in 2023.

“I am overwhelmed, as are all at New Quay RNLI,” said Roger Couch,  Lifeboat Operations Manager. “What a most generous gift this really is.

“Now the hard work will really begin in preparing for her arrival and all that entails.

“I’m confident the arrival of our new boat will create renewed interest and awareness in the RNLI in Ceredigion and I hope we can capitalise on this to bring in new volunteers and supporters alike.”

The news has been warmly welcomed by all on station who are said to be thrilled that vigorous testing proved only minor modifications would be needed to the existing boathouse.

Siwan Holloway, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager said: “It really is a fantastic early Christmas present for all at New Quay.”

The lifeboat is being manufactured at the RNLI’s purpose-built centre in Poole, Dorset.

A launch and recovery system for the Shannon has been built at Clayton Engineering.

The RNLI are planning an appeal in the New Year to fund the implementation of the new lifeboat.