THE new Swanage inshore lifeboat has been officially named and handed over to the RNLI .

Crowds gathered at Swanage’s lifeboat station to see the boat officially named the ‘Phyl & Jack’ in memory of the late Phyl and Jack Cleare.

Phyl – who passed away in March – and her late husband Jack started supporting the RNLI more than 30 years ago, becoming close friends with several crewmen as the decades passed.

Among the guests at the naming ceremony was Phyl’s great niece Nicky Butterworth, who handed over the lifeboat to the institution.

Family friend Ted Street was proud to officially name the lifeboat.

Since arriving in July the inshore lifeboat has already launched 17 times.

Senior helmsman Tom Greasty said: “The new life boat is fantastic, despite being essentially the same structure the chart plotter has been upgraded making navigation whilst on the move easier.”