Replica lifeboat created by dedicated fundraiser handed over in his memory

Tobermory lifeboat replica created by Dave Howson

Lifelong supporter and fundraiser for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Dave Howson, created the model of the Tobermory Severn Class lifeboat with amazing attention to detail.

Sadly, Dave did not finish completely finish the replica to the level he desired, as he died in January this year, aged 77.

But in keeping with his wishes, the replica 17-39 was modelled on the lifeboat at Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, and he decided it should be handed to the crews there.

Chairman of the Milton Keynes RNLI fundraising branch Rod Law, along with wife Marianne and grand-daughter Daisy, made the trip to Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, to hand over the 1/11th scale replica to the station, on October 25.

One slight difference in the model is the name. The model has been named after Dave’s grand-daughter Jessica Holly, rather than ‘Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay’ which is the name of the Tobermory lifeboat.

The trip was funded by the generosity of Mr D J Soul, managing director of Souls of Olney.

The replica will now take pride of place at the Tobermory RNLI visitor centre.

A spokesman for the station said: “On behalf of everyone at the Tobermory Lifeboat Station, we thank the family of Dave Howson and the Milton Keynes fundraising branch for this incredibly generous gift, which will continue to take pride of place in our visitor centre for many years to come.”