Family gift lifeboat to Weston RNLI in son’s memory

Mike Buckland, Liam McDermott and Shane Wells with Jenny Beaumont. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Eleanor Young)

The D Class lifeboat is one of the most versatile and successful of all the RNLI models.

For more than 10 years, Weston RNLI crew has performed a number of rescues and has saved many lives in the D Class Anna Stock.

The boat came to the end of its operational life and was presented with the new Adrian Beaumont, presented to the RNLI in memory of a 46-year-old IT expert with a love of sailing who died in a car accident.

Adrian was working in Avonmouth and he and his family had been travelling up the M5 in 2017 when they were involved in a collision.

Adrian Beaumont. (Image: Sub)

Adrian and his partner died as a result of their injuries and were survived by their two children.

A ceremony was held at Weston's St John The Baptist Church on Saturday to name the crew's newest addition. Adrian's family decided to honour his memory by fundraising for a new lifeboat for the RNLI.

His mother, Jenny Beaumont, presented the boat to lifeboat operations manager Mike Buckland. The lifeboat has been in Weston for a few months and in that time has performed a dozen rescues including one life saved after a woman was plucked from the sea.

Mrs Beaumont and two of Adrian's friends spoke of his achievements and recalled some funny memories.

The boat was accepted by Mike and was then handed into the care of helmsman Liam McDermott, who had been taught by Mrs Beaumont.

The congregation then headed outside in the beautiful sunshine to celebrate as the boat was blessed and officially named with a bottle of champagne being poured over the bow of the boat.

Mrs Beaumont said: "Thank you and all your colleagues for an enjoyable morning.

"As a family we were amazed to see so many people filling the church and thought the service, speeches, ceremony, refreshments and demonstration a fitting tribute to everyone's fundraising efforts.

"The Adrian Beaumont was achieved through the generosity and hard work of his family and friends and that would have chuffed him to bits, and we are pleased to hand over the boat to the Weston RNLI."