An inshore lifeboat named after the Sheringham Shantymen has been decommissioned after 10 years' service in Ireland.
The Norfolk songsters started raising money for the D-Class ILB in 1995 and the RNLI handed it over to the Wicklow lifeboat station where the newly named D-671 The Sheringham Shantymen started its life in 2007.
It was formally handed over to Des Davitt, the lifeboat operations manager of Wicklow station, by shantymen chairman Bob Hawkins. A weekend of Gaelic celebrations followed with the shantymen entertaining the lifeboat crew. The D-671 was returned to Poole in February 2017 to become one of the RNLI's relief fleet.
Mr Davitt said: 'We are indeed indebted to the shantymen. This ILB certainly did not let us, the RNLI or its donors down, as 96 people, seven dog owners and a grateful sheep farmer can attest.'
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