A final slipway launch for a Douglas Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) lifeboat will take place next month.

The all-weather lifeboat, named Sir William Hillary, is to have its last slipway launch at 11am on January 7, 2018 before a Shannon class vessel is introduced to Douglas RNLI.

The annual commemorative service will also honour the memory Sir William Hillary, who founded the RNLI, with a ceremony held at 3pm in St George’s Church, Douglas.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, will attend to lay a wreath on the tomb of Sir William and Lady Hillary in St George’s Churchyard.

Douglas RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer said: ’After 29 years of service, it will be with a sense of pride and nostalgia that our volunteers and supporters will watch our lifeboat launch for a final time from the slipway.

’We will however, take great comfort from knowing the Sir William Hillary will be with us for a short time longer as we await the arrival of our new Mersey-class lifeboat.’

Douglas RNLI station are also planning to hold an Open Day on January 6 for the public to view the Sir William Hillary lifeboat before it is officially marked as out of service.

Sir William Henry, which is one of two Tyne class lifeboats still in service with the RNLI, was first stationed at Douglas on November 28, 1988.

The lifeboat was named after an English militia officer who founded the RNLI in 1824 and died in the Isle of Man at the age of 76. The different ’classes’ of lifeboats are named after UK rivers.

A replacement Shannon, which is the latest class of all-weather lifeboats, will arrive once a berth has been constructed.

Douglas RNLI will receive a Mersey class lifeboat during the construction to replace the Sir William Hillary vessel.

The aging lifeboat will continue its lifesaving service afloat from the Douglas harbour’s Liner Berth while necessary modifications are made to the station’s slipway to accommodate the Mersey class lifeboat.

Crew will then familiarise themselves with the new Mersey class lifeboat, which will also to be berthed at the Douglas station.

Once the familiarisation has been completed along with the modifications to the slipway, the Mersey lifeboat will take over the lifesaving services for Douglas.

It is at this point that the Sir William Hillary will be retired.