The ‘Betty Huntbatch’ retires after 22 years of service and 392 launches, saving eight lives off the North East coast.
Now, the lifeboat is at Poole’s RNLI center. A new crew from the Isle of Man will train there. They will learn to operate the ‘Betty Huntbatch’. A reserve lifeboat is at Ferry Road currently. It will stay until Shannon training ends.
This training will finish later this month. Steve Pounder spoke about the lifeboat. He said it was sad to see ‘Betty’ leave.
Crews have many memories of the boat. They recall saving lives during rough seas. They also remember difficult towing jobs. It’s good to know ‘Betty’ continues service. She will work at the Isle of Man.
The new lifeboat ‘John Sharp’ will takeover. Volunteer crews will use it 24/7. Malcolm Cook talked about ‘Betty’s’ service. She saved eight lives while at Hartlepool. The boat launched 392 times to help.
It aided 604 people in total. It spent 747 hours at sea. Cook thanked the Huntbatch family. They gave the lifeboat to Hartlepool RNLI. It’s great she will save lives at the Isle of Man.
Joyce Huntbatch’s daughter visited Hartlepool. She thanked the crew for caring for the lifeboat. This happened in the week ‘Betty’ left. Joyce named the boat back in 2005.
Val Pittaway called it a proud day for her mom. The naming ceremony happened years ago. She enjoyed visiting the Ferry Road crew. Learning about the new lifeboat was great. It is a memory she will keep.