Kilkeel RNLI names new Shannon class lifeboat Bobby Cameron in memory of donor’s brother
- Pat Nolan
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Saturday 22 August 2026
A new Shannon class lifeboat has been officially named Bobby Cameron during a special naming ceremony and Service of Dedication at Kilkeel Lifeboat Station in County Down today (Saturday 22 August).
The lifeboat, which went on service in June this year, has been largely funded by generous donor Margaret Cameron and named in memory of her beloved brother, Bobby.
Margaret and Bobby were brought up, along with their two older brothers, on a farm at Gracehill in Ballymena during the Second World War. The family came from an Ulster Scots background.
Bobby went on to build a successful career in joinery and construction, becoming a skilled City & Guilds craftsman. He later held a teaching post at the College of Technology in Belfast before working in the Department of Economic Development, where he was involved in establishing and organising training for apprentices and unskilled workers.
Bobby was happily married to Betty for 20 years and was devastated by her death in 1998. He remained a widower for the following 26 years until his death two years ago at the age of 90.
Neither Bobby nor Margaret had a direct connection with the RNLI, other than a shared admiration for the lifesaving work carried out by its volunteer crews.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Margaret Cameron formally handed the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI through the charity’s Chief Executive, Peter Sparkes. John Fisher, Kilkeel Lifeboat Operations Manager, then accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station.
Speaking during the ceremony, John said:
“Today is a very special occasion for us. It marks 40 years since Robert Grimason, a local businessman, started the RNLI in Kilkeel. During those 40 years, we’ve answered 598 calls, aided over 400 people and saved 43 lives.
“The commitment, courage and dedication of our people is what the RNLI is all about. Today is another milestone in our history. I cannot thank the Cameron family enough for making this possible. Their generosity has provided us with an exceptional lifeboat that will help us to continue our mission of saving lives for many years to come.”
The Rev Rodney Cameron, nephew of Margaret and Bobby, led the Service of Dedication that followed.
Before a gathered crowd of well-wishers, including family and friends of the station, Margaret officially named the lifeboat in memory of her brother. Lifeboat crew then poured a bottle of champagne over the side before launching the new vessel.
Speaking as she named the lifeboat, Margaret said:
“Today is the fulfilment of all my dreams. I am so glad that I was able to do this for Bobby. I miss him very much and this lifeboat is really a tribute to his memory, as a brother and an uncle.”
In a particularly touching tribute, Margaret also presented John Fisher with Bobby’s old Sunday School Bible, asking that it be kept aboard the lifeboat.
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. It is the first modern all-weather RNLI lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets rather than traditional propellers, making it the charity’s most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet.
The new lifeboat has also been made possible through generous bequests from Edna Joyce Burgess and Hazel Mills, both lifelong supporters of the RNLI.
The vessel is also a legacy lifeboat and carries the names of generous supporters within the letters and numbers that make up its identifying number.
For Kilkeel Lifeboat Station, the arrival and naming of Bobby Cameron marks a significant milestone in its 40-year history. With the support of the Cameron family and other generous benefactors, the new Shannon class lifeboat will help Kilkeel’s volunteer crew continue their lifesaving work and be ready to respond when people need them most.
