Appledore lifeboat station in mourning

THE flag at Appledore lifeboat station is at half mast in mourning for Evelyn Paley, the benefactor of its B Class Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat the Douglas Paley. The vessel was donated to the RNLI in memory of Mrs Paley s late husband Air Commodore Dougl

THE flag at Appledore lifeboat station is at half mast in mourning for Evelyn Paley, the benefactor of its B Class Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat the Douglas Paley.

The vessel was donated to the RNLI in memory of Mrs Paley's late husband Air Commodore Douglas Charles Paley.

Air Commodore Paley MRCS, LRCP, FDS, a maxillofacial surgeon, had a great interest in boats of all types and was a keen sailor, with his crew respresenting his RAF hospital in yacht racing within the Solent and Kiel Canal.

Since donating the boat Evelyn had become a good friend, regular visitor and avid supporter of Appledore RNLI and she would be sadly missed, said station spokeswoman Nikki Tait.

"She took the greatest pleasure in watching the Douglas Paley launch during her visits to the station and honoured us all by taking a prominent part in the film produced at Appledore by the RNLI to encourage people to think of the RNLI in their wills."

The Douglas Paley arrived on station at Appledore in December 1997 and has been launched for emergencies 375 times to date and been involved in rescuing 287 people from the estuary and surrounding coastline.