Spirit of Juniper

Naming Ceremony and Service of Dedication of Spirit of Juniper

The CRG lifeboat Spirit of Juniper was officially named on 21st May 2005 during a ceremony at the Littlehampton Lifeboat Station.

(Click on any image below to open slideshow view)

The blustery day opened with a “shout” at 08:20 when coastguards observed an unmanned dinghy drifting off Littlehampton. Because Spirit of Juniper had been polished and prepared for the ceremony, the crew took Blue Peter 1 out to investigate. By 08:47, they had recovered the dinghy and returned to harbour and could resume preparations for the naming ceremony.

As the crowds and press assembled for the 11:30 start, so did the grey clouds…

After a stirring rendition of the National Anthem, the Station Branch Manager, Peter Cheney, opened the proceedings. Nick Ellis (CRG Hon. Sec.) then said a few words and officially handed Spirit of Juniper into the care of the RNLI (in the person of Miss Helen Griffiths from the RNLI Council). As Helen Griffiths addressed the assembled company (declaring an interest in Juniper juice en passant) the heavens opened and the rain started to fall!

Spirit of Juniper was duly delivered into the care of John Jones, Lifeboat Operations Manager of the Littlehampton Station Branch.

As the rain lashed down, the Reverend George Bush (CRG Chaplain) conducted the service of dedication, during the course of which the hymns O God Our Help In Ages Past and Eternal Father, Strong to Save were sung.

After the Blessing, Nick Ellis named Spirit of Juniper, unveiled a plaque naming the Campaign for Real Gin as the donors and poured a bottle of Silver Spirit (the Campaign’s own-label gin) over the lifeboat – much to the consternation of all around!

The “tradition” of passing the remains to the crew was of course observed. After the ceremony, Spirit of Juniper was launched and put though her paces on the River Arun. She was joined in the celebrations by HM Coastguard’s helicopter “India Juliet” from Lee-on-Solent.

The RNLI kindly provided the following statistics for 2007 and 2008, which give an impression of the frequency and nature of operations of the boat and its crew. In summary, in 2007, The Spirit of Juniper was launched 22 times and rescued 15 people in the year. In 2008, it rescued 20 people in 27 launches.

Spirit of Juniper: 2007 Launches

Station NameService DateLife BoatType of CasualtyCause of ServiceAssessmentDist to CasualtyHours at SeaWind forceSea StatePeople Rescued
Littlehampton26/02/2007D-631SMAL CAB PWRSTRANDINGGAVE ASSTNCE6.002.0336
Littlehampton01/03/2007D-631ANIMALAML IN TRBLEGAVE ASSTNCE0.250.0530
Littlehampton17/03/2007D-631FISH VL SMLLMAN OVERBORDSEARCH FAILD3.503.8640
Jttlehampton06/04/2007D-631YACHT + AUXSTRANDINGGAVE ASSTNCE0.503.6010
Littlehampton15/04/2007D-631RUBBERDINGHYPOSTN UNSUREOTHERS AIDED0.400.3210
Littlehampton28/05/2007D-631PRS IN WATERDROWNINGOTHERS AIDED7.500.5740
Littlehampton10/06/2007D-631YACHT + AUXLEAK SWAMPINGGAVE ASSTNCE5.063.2010
Littlehampton10/06/2007D-631SMAL OPN PWRMAN OVERBORDSEARCH FAILD0.505.6330
Littlehampton11/06/2007D-631SMAL OPN PWRMAN OVERBORDSEARCH FAILD1.615.0010
Littlehampton11/06/2007D-631OBJECT NESNESFALSE ALARM6.000.9340
Littlehampton12/06/2007D-631DEAD BODYRECOVER BODYGAVE ASSTNCE0.800.6240
Littlehampton14/06/2007D-631PRS IN WATERNESOTHERS AIDED0.251.7010
Littlehampton24/06/2007D-631PRSN MISSINGMISSINGFALSE ALARM0.502.5640
Littlehampton05/07/2007D-631SAIL DINGHYCAPSIZEGAVE ASSTNCE0.250.9850
Littlehampton18/07/2007D-631PRSN MISSINGMISSINGFALSE ALARM3.000.2540
Littlehampton20/07/2007D-631ANIMALAML IN TRBLEGAVE ASSTNCE0.300.3320
Littlehampton29/07/2007D-631ANIMALAML IN TRBLEGAVE ASSTNCE0.100.2330
Littlehampton11/08/2007D-631PRSN MISSINGMISSINGGAVE ASSTNCE0.500.0331
Littlehampton27/08/2007D-631SMAL CAB PWROUT OF FUELGAVE ASSTNCE3.003.3334
Littlehampton08/09/2007D-631SMAL OPN PWRMACHNRY FAILGAVE ASSTNCE1.000.6332
Littlehampton10/09/2007D-631SMAL OPN PWRMACHNRY FAILGAVE ASSTNCE1.000.7332
Littlehampton11/09/2007D-631RUBBERDINGHYCAPSIZEOTHERS AIDED6.000.3210

Spirit of Juniper: 2008 Launches

Station Name Service Date Life Boat Type of Casualty Cause of Service Assessment Dist to Casualty Hours at Sea Wind Force Sea State People Rescued
Littlehampton 12/02/2008 D-631 YACHT + AUX STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.5 0.9 1 1 1
Littlehampton 13/02/2008 D-631 PRS BRIDGE IN DISTRESS OTHERS AIDED 0.25 0.1 1 1 0
Littlehampton 20/02/2008 D-631 MOTOR VEH VEH IN SEA GAVE ASSTNCE 0.05 1.4 1 1 0
Littlehampton 06/03/2008 D-631 ANIMAL AML IN TRBLE RES UNAIDED 0.25 0.1 3 1 0
Littlehampton 20/03/2008 D-631 PRS IN WATER DROWNING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.56 0.2 6 2 1
Littlehampton 20/03/2008 D-631 PRS IN WATER DROWNING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.56 0.2 6 3 1
Littlehampton 08/05/2008 D-631 PRS IN WATER DROWNING OTHERS AIDED 0.03 0.1 1 1 0
Littlehampton 11/05/2008 D-631 BATHER DROWNING FALSE ALARM 0.25 1.2 2 1 0
Littlehampton 18/05/2008 D-631 SAILBOARD OVERDUE FALSE ALARM 4 1.1 4 3 0
Littlehampton 23/05/2008 D-631 ANIMAL AML IN TRBLE FALSE ALARM 1 1.3 3 2 0
Littlehampton 01/06/2008 D-631 PRS IN WATER IN DISTRESS GAVE ASSTNCE 2 0.5 1 1 0
Littlehampton 04/06/2008 D-631 YACHT + AUX STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.25 0.3 5 3 0
Littlehampton 04/06/2008 D-631 SMAL OPN PWR STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.25 0.1 5 2 0
Littlehampton 08/06/2008 D-631 SMAL OPN PWR MACHNRY FAIL GAVE ASSTNCE 2 0.5 1 1 2
Littlehampton 08/06/2008 D-631 LRGE CAB PWR STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.25 0.6 1 1 4
Littlehampton 12/06/2008 D-631 JET SKI MACHNRY FAIL GAVE ASSTNCE 3 0.9 3 2 2
Littlehampton 19/06/2008 D-631 MOTOR VEH VEH IN SEA GAVE ASSTNCE 0.32 1.4 6 2 2
Littlehampton 19/06/2008 D-631 SAIL DINGHY MAY BE TRBLE FALSE ALARM 0.25 0 6 2 0
Littlehampton 19/06/2008 D-631 JET SKI CAPSIZE GAVE ASSTNCE 1.07 0.7 7 6 2
Littlehampton 22/06/2008 D-631 ANIMAL AML IN TRBLE GAVE ASSTNCE 0.25 0.3 6 5 0
Littlehampton 27/06/2008 D-631 YACHT + AUX STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.25 5.5 7 5 1
Littlehampton 29/06/2008 D-631 SMAL OPN PWR STRANDING GAVE ASSTNCE 0.53 1.2 5 4 4
Littlehampton 26/07/2008 D-631 PRSN MISSING MISSING FALSE ALARM 6 0.1 4 3 0
Littlehampton 31/07/2008 D-631 BATHER MISSING FALSE ALARM 5.16 2.5 1 1 0
Littlehampton 03/08/2008 D-631 SMAL OPN PWR OVERDUE FALSE ALARM 4 2.2 5 4 0
Littlehampton 12/08/2008 D-631 BATHER MISSING FALSE ALARM 3.05 1 5 4 0
Littlehampton 21/09/2008 D-631 OBJECT NES MAY BE TRBLE FALSE ALARM 3 0.7 2 1 0