# RNLI holds official naming ceremony of lifeboat funded by Ferraris - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/04/29/rnli-holds-official-naming-ceremony-of-lifeboat-funded-by-ferraris/ - Published: 2019-04-29T09:00:46+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has held the official naming ceremony of a Shannon class lifeboat funded by the legacy of the late Richard Colton who left two classic Ferraris to the charity in his Will.** Businessman Richard Colton passed away in March 2015. A collector and restorer of classic cars for 40 years, he [left the RNLI two of the world’s rarest Ferraris.](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/05/06/rnli-to-benefit-from-auction-of-two-ferraris-left-in-a-legacy/) Both went to auction, a 1960 red Ferrari 250 GT SWB sold for £6.6m, while a silver 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 sold for £1.93m – making the vehicles the most valuable items ever left to the [RNLI](https://rnli.org/) in a single legacy. Part of this has been used to fund the all-weather lifeboat Richard and Caroline Colton and launch and recovery system for the lifeboat, which is stationed at Hastings. Designed in-house by RNLI naval architects, the Shannon class lifeboat was introduced to the RNLI’s fleet in 2013. The Shannon class is the first of the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats to be powered by water-jets rather than traditional propellers, making it the most agile and manoeuvrable lifeboat in the charity’s fleet. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) The special ceremony, held at the lifeboat station, was attended by a large crowd who were welcomed by the RNLI’s crew and volunteers, along with the family of Richard Colton and dignitaries. RNLI Hastings Coxswain, Phil Jones, said: > “The naming ceremony and service of dedication is a very special day for everyone > associated with the lifeboat station, and we are so grateful to the legacy of > Richard Colton, for making this happen. His legacy will enable the station to > carry out our lifesaving work and serve the community of Hastings. “Six out of > ten lifeboat launches are only made possible by legacies, large and small, left > to the RNLI in people’s wills. These gifts pay for the training and equipment > we as lifeboat crew rely on when we launch into the unknown, in all weathers, > day or night to save others.” Mrs Jo Adams, cousin of Richard Colton who performed the naming duties on the day, said: >  “As Richard’s first cousin and sadly the last surviving Colton, I, together > with all my family and his friends are immensely proud of this wonderful gesture! > It is of even greater significance personally because my husband and I have always > been keen offshore sailors and recognise full well what the RNLI means to the > sailing community amongst many others.”    Main image: The £6.6m Ferrari, the newly named Hastings Lifeboat and the Hastings RNLI volunteer crew. Credit: RNLI/Kt Bruce * **[Camden Council signs up to support SocialBox.Biz’s laptops to the homeless initiative](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/23/camden-council-signs-up-to-support-socialbox-bizs-laptops-to-the-homeless-initiative/)**( 23 March 2020) * **[Project seeks donations of unused computer power for Covid-19 research](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/25/project-seeks-donations-unused-computer-power-for-covid-19-research/)**( 25 March 2020) * **[Product Giving Alliance launches to help businesses donate goods & services during pandemic](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/05/22/product-giving-alliance-launches-to-help-businesses-donate-goods-services-during-pandemic/)**( 22 May 2020) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)