A WIRRAL lifeboat that played a role in saving hundreds of people has returned to the River Mersey for the first time in decades as a major restoration project continues.
The William & Kate Johnston Lifeboat served New Brighton RNLI from 1923-1950, launching 96 times and saving an estimated 248 lives.
Today (Monday, May 13), this piece of maritime history returned to the water once more, when she was move under her own steam across the river to Liverpool, to be stored at Sandon Half-Tide Dock.
For this historic voyage, the former New Brighton lifeboat was accompanied by the current New Brighton RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat and volunteer crew.
At the time of her service, The William & Kate Johnston was the biggest lifeboat in existence, being one of only four Barnett-class lifeboats in use.
Phase one involved the raising of funds to return the lifeboat, by road, from her previous home on the south coast.
Following a swell of local support, including generous donations from local New Brighton businesses, the boat was returned to Merseyside safely, where initial maintenance works could take place.
Now, with a treated and repainted hull and serviced engines and fuel lines, she is ready to make her return to the river that she called home for so many years once again.
Dan Wardle, former New Brighton RNLI helm and director of WKJPS, told the Globe: "It's a very historic moment for us and for the river, especially with it being the RNLI's 200th anniversary. It's 100 years since the William & Kate Johnston first went into service; she's 101, so it ties in really well.
"She was last here in the 2000s, so it's great to see her back".
Dan said: "We will always need more. The initial fundraising was to get her home. Cammell Laird gave us paint, free-of-charge, MST have been phenomenal. We thought we'd be here for two weeks, but are on week seven now - they have been absolutely brilliant. We're now looking at other avenues of revenue, sponsorship, National Lottery Heritage Funding etc.
"Now that people will see her back on the water, it should generate more interest."
On the task ahead, Dan continued: "It will probably take about two years to refurbish. Once we start stripping her out inside, take the decks off to see what's actually damaged and needs replacing.
"The top coat has been done too, she looks amazing."
Connor Wray, a fellow WKJPS Director, added: "We can't thank everyone enough for their involvement in bringing the boat back from the south coast and back on Merseyside. Some of the donations we got to help us do this were phenomenal.
"It shows there's a real drive from the local community to get her back onto the Mersey and to see her working again, back where she belongs.
"In terms of the next stage of fundraising, whilst we will keep our supporters up to date with progress and continue to seek their support where we can, I think for the amount of money we're talking about we'll be looking at much bigger grants and much bigger heritage funding.
"Restoration will probably be around £200,000. Then it depends on storage costs, etc and how much it costs to run."
"I think the idea is to have her as a museum piece, so the community can benefit from its magnificent history. There were some remarkable rescues she was involved in during service."
Tristan Dickson, a fellow WKJPS director and New Brighton RNLI Trainee Helm) said: "We've been working hard over the last seven weeks to the hull prepped as preventative maintenance before we move into the next phases of thorough restoration.
"It's been hard work - dusty, dirty - but looking at the boat now it's been worth it."
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