LETTERS

LIFEBOAT OFFICIALLY NAMED

Dear Editor, The RNLI’s new D Class lifeboat was named in memory of Hugo Missen in beautiful sunshine in front of a crowd of hundreds of invited guests and onlookers. With performances from both the South Wales Police band and Porthcawl Male Voice Choir it was a very special, memorable and at times emotional day. Hugo was the son of Helm Joe Missen and his fiancé Jessica Entwistle and was the grandson of Porthcawl RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Philip Missen MBE. Hugo lost his courageous fight against cancer aged just 15 months in December 2016. The D Class lifeboat arrived at Porthcawl lifeboat station on 26 January 2022 and has already been launched on service four times, two of which were to assist vessels in distress. Helm Chris Page who was instrumental in getting the new D Class named after Hugo Missen handed the D Class lifeboat over into the care of the RNLI, which was accepted on behalf of the charity by Mark Wordsworth an RNLI trustee. The lifeboat was accepted on behalf of Porthcawl RNLI by Mark Broadway a crewmember at Porthcawl. D861 Hugo Missen has been funded by several donors from restricted funds. Mark Wordsworth, RNLI trustee spoke of the 11 lives saved by Porthcawl RNLI volunteers during 2021 – the most lives saved by any RNLI station in Wales and how the new lifeboat Hugo Missen would go on to save even more. Every one involved in Porthcawl RNLI lifeboat station are delighted to have been given the opportunity to have a new lifeboat named after Hugo Missen. Following the ceremony the new lifeboat was paraded along the seafront back to the lifeboat station led by the South Wales Police band. The new lifeboat was then launched from the slipway where it performed a short demonstration both in the harbour area and then off the seafront in front of the Seabank Hotel.

Chris Page, Porthcawl

Photo credit: Mike Jones