Hundreds of people gathered to watch an "extra special" display as the country's first-ever legacy lifeboat was escorted to her new Norfolk home by five vessels.
The crowd lined the pier at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston's RNLI station to welcome the arrival of the RNLI's new lifeboat - a Shannon Class RNLB 13-44 named ‘George and Frances Phelon’.
This is the nation's first legacy lifeboat - which include the name of a person who has left a gift in their will to the RNLI on the side of the vessel.
With the construction of this lifeboat being fully funded by a gift from Frances Phelon - who asked that the vessel be named after herself and her late husband - there were poignant scenes as five crew members sailed the new lifeboat home after a three-day passage from RNLI headquarters in Poole.
The crew - led by Coxswain Andy Mason and 2nd Coxswain and Station Mechanic, Rod Wells - aboard RNLB 13-44 ‘George and Frances Phelon’ were met by five east coast lifeboats and an HM Coastguard rescue team near Hopton.
The lifeboats - including ILB ‘John Rowntree (Great Yarmouth and Gorleston), ALB ’Samarbeta’ (Great Yarmouth and Gorleston), ALB 'Patsy Knight' (Lowestoft), ALB ‘Bernard Matthews II' (Caister) and ILB ’Sea Weaver' (Hemsby) - then escorted the new Shannon class lifeboat to her new home at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI station during a special parade.
The Shannon class lifeboat was put through her paces to demonstrate her manoeuvrability as large crowds watched on.
With the pier heads crowded as the new lifeboat arrived, the procession then lined up at the mouth of Gorleston Pier where RNLB 13-44 George and Frances Phelon was given "a fire hose salute" at 1.34pm.
Ten minutes later, the new lifeboat entered Gorleston harbour, crossing the pierheads to her new home at precisely 13.44 to reflect the lifeboat fleet number.
All five lifeboats moored up to celebrate the new vessel's arrival, with the station then opening up to the public.
'Deeply moved'
Rod Wells, station mechanic and volunteer Coxswain, said: "It was wonderful to see everyone on the Pier welcome us home with our new lifeboat.
"The crew of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI station were deeply moved by the massive welcome on the Pier.
"We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts".
Andy Mason, Coxswain, said: "It was fantastic to see our fellow east coast lifeboats join us for the parade and celebration, it really made our homecoming extra special."
With the RNLI's first legacy lifeboat proudly displaying the loved ones names on the side of the vessel, a replica board of all the names on the side of ‘George and Frances Phelon’ was also put up at the station for the public to see.
Pleased to be part of the celebrations, Lowestoft Lifeboat coxswain John Fox said: "We were pleased to be at Gorleston to celebrate the arrival of their new RNLI lifeboat 13-44.
"It is good to have another Shannon class lifeboat on the East Anglian coast together with Lowestoft and Wells.
"We have had our Shannon 'Patsy Knight' at Lowestoft for nine years now and we are very pleased with her performance and capability.
"I am sure that the Gorleston crew will love their new boat, as we do ours."
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