A new Shannon class lifeboat has been officially named Machiko Nancy during a special naming ceremony and service of dedication held by Larne RNLI at the East Antrim Boat Club on Saturday afternoon.

The lifeboat, which went on service in February this year, has been largely funded by donor Michael Cameron via the Cameron Family Charitable Foundation.

During Saturday’s ceremony, Michael had the honour of naming the lifeboat Machiko Nancy, after his late wife who was one of the founders of the charity.

Machiko was born in Vancouver, Canada in August 1954 and was of Japanese Canadian heritage. In November 1980, she married Michael who was working in Vancouver at the time. In 1989, they moved to the West Midlands and began to develop their careers from there.

placeholder image — Larne RNLI volunteers pictured alongside their new Shannon class lifeboat. (Jason Bain/Larne RNLI)

Machiko was a hardworking business manager, having qualified as an accountant in both Canada and England and Wales. When she retired in 2010, she devoted her energy to gardening and dancing. Following a short illness, she passed away at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in September 2020.

At the start of proceedings, Michael Cameron handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI. Following that, Peter Sparkes, RNLI Chief Executive, then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the charity before handing it into the care of Larne Lifeboat Station.

Jonathan Shirley, Lifeboat Operations Manager, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of Larne RNLI. Speaking about the event, he said the volunteer team were looking forward to writing a new chapter in the station’s history.

“As Lifeboat Operations Manager, it is my responsibility to authorise the lifeboats launch when requested, and to send a message to the crew asking them to get to the station as quickly as possible, and sometimes in weather conditions which are very inclement and where others would be returning home,” he said.

"The Shannon is the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat in the fleet. Designed entirely in-house by a team of RNLI engineers, the RNLI harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure the lifeboat met the demands of a 21st century search and rescue service.

“The Machiko Nancy replaces our all-weather Trent class lifeboat, Dr John McSparran, and we know just like our outgoing lifeboat that served us so well over the last quarter of a century, that this new Shannon will go on to make an exemplary search and rescue asset for many years to come.”

The Very Rev Fr. Manuelito Milo, Revd David Lockhart and Rev Dr. Colin McClure led the congregation in the Service of Dedication that followed during which the lifeboat was officially named Machiko Nancy. The gathered crowd of well-wishers including family and friends of the station, watched as a bottle of Saki was poured over the side of the lifeboat before it launched at the end of the ceremony.

The lifeboat was also funded by a legacy from the late Dr Maureen Beryl Bruce Murray, a former Croydon GP and NHS leader. A lifelong admirer of bravery, she supported the RNLI, inspired by her love of the Cornish coast and wartime experiences.