Today we had the privilege to attend the Naming Ceremony and Service of Dedication for RNLI Berwick upon Tweed’s new D-Class lifeboat. The ‘Glenis Joan Felstead’ is named after the late wife of Trevor Felstead who spoke warmly and candidly at today’s Service. One of Glenis’s final wishes was that her husband ensure the RNLI received a contribution in recognition of its lifesaving work. This generosity has funded the new lifeboat. Reverend Canon Dr Sarah Hills, Vicar of Holy Island and Area Dean of Norham, led the Service of Dedication.
Glenis grew up in a village called Edwinstowe in North Nottinghamshire, next to Sherwood Forest and famous for the outlaw Robin Hood. Legend has it that Robin Hood and Maid Marian married at St. Mary’s church in Edwinstowe. This is where Glenis and Trevor got married.
Berwick-upon-Tweed was close to Glenis’s heart and as Trevor explained: ‘We spent lots of years touring in our caravan, both home in the UK and abroad, but Glenis’s favourite area was the North. We would leave home and make our first stop at Berwick-Upon Tweed, 250 miles away. Glenis loved it for the scenery and was fascinated by the bridges.’
Reflecting on the naming ceremony, Trevor said: ‘Today was a special and poignant day. I know that Glenis would have been very moved by the ceremony, as was I. It would have meant so much to her to know that her final wishes had been honoured. When the volunteer crew go out on the new lifeboat they will have the loving spirit of Glenis with them.’
After the ceremony D-900 Glenis Joan Felstead was launched and demonstrated her capabilities at sea.
We wish the Felstead family well and ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’ to all at RNLI Berwick upon Tweed.
