The Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Lorimer, has agreed to become patron of Peel’s RNLI station.

His Excellency and Lady Philippa Lorimer were welcomed to the station by Peel chairman Stuart Blackley and lifeboat operations manager Allen Corlett, before they joined the crew aboard its new Shannon class lifeboat Frank and Brenda Winter for a training exercise.

The £2.2 million Shannon is the most advanced lifeboat in the Royal National Lifeboat Institute fleet.

It is more manoeuvrable, safer, faster and has a greater range than the Mersey class lifeboat it replaced.

Powered by twin jets instead of propellers, it also has improved crew safety features – shock absorbing seats to protect their spines from wave impacts, and a new computer monitoring system.

And its rapidly launched and recovered by a caterpillar track-driven, specialist vehicle, the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS).

Ramsey RNLI became the second town in the island to get a Shannon class boat when the Anne and James Ritchie 2 arrived last month, replacing its Mersey class Ruby Clery.

Mr Corlett explained: ‘Everyone here at Peel Lifeboat is grateful for His Excellency’s interest and support as we settle into service with our new lifeboat, as we prepare for its naming ceremony on May 14 this year and as we look further ahead to celebrating the RNLI’s 200th anniversary in 2024.

‘It was especially rewarding for crew to hear Sir John acknowledge their dedication and professionalism.’

Mr Corlett added: ‘We look forward to working with our patron in the years ahead as we commemorate the Isle of Man’s proud heritage as the home of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, celebrate the work of our volunteers and supporters and inspire future generations.’