Tomorrow (November 11) is a day of remembrance and celebration in Ramsgate starting with a wreath laying ceremony at the Destiny Statue in Albion Gardens at 9am, to remember the animals that served in both wars and then an Armistice Day service, just before 11am in the town centre, marked with the customary two-minute silence at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month.
After the short service, Ramsgate’s residents and visitors will be getting ready to welcome the arrival of the first ‘new’ lifeboat for the town in 29 years. She will be arriving at 1pm and people are being encouraged to come down to the Lighthouse (west pier arm) and wave her into the harbour.
Rebekah Smith, town promoter for Ramsgate Town Council, is organising a community welcome and is asking people to head to the lighthouse just before 1pm to be part of this once-in-a-generation experience.
Rebekah has RNLI waving flags and stickers to give out and Ramsgate’s Mayor will also be there, waving her flag, to mark this special event.
Rebekah said: “After a failed attempt to bring her in last week due to poor weather, the forecast for Saturday looks ideal for the arrival of our new lifeboat at 1pm. It should be quite a spectacle with up to six lifeboats escorting her as she enters the harbour.
“Some of Ramsgate’s businesses will be donating to RNLI Ramsgate to mark the occasion so if you are heading down for the Armistice Service, do spend a bit of time in and around the town, bag some goodies and a spot of lunch and then come along and join us at the lighthouse to welcome the new addition to our harbour – the more the merrier!”
The significantly larger, Tamar classed lifeboat arriving at Ramsgate is appropriately named ‘Diamond Jubilee’, which means the only active RNLI vessel with a royal moniker will now be based in the only Royal Harbour in the UK. She will be replacing the Trent classed vessel ‘Esme Anderson’ who has served in Ramsgate since 1994.
Esme Anderson will continue to serve Ramsgate and Thanet over the next few months whilst the crew gain experience and training in the larger vessel.
The Isle of Thanet News is among the businesses to make an RNLI donation to mark the arrival of ‘Diamond Jubilee’.
RNLI shop, lunch and welcome map