A ROYAL ride in a lifeboat ushered in a new era for the RNLI in the region today.

The Duchess of Kent arrived at Whitby to officially open the port's new lifeboat station aboard the all-weather boat George and Mary Webb.

The Duchess, originally from Hovingham, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, has a long affiliation with the RNLI at Whitby and has named the port's last three lifeboats.

The new lifeboat station became operational last month and was built, at a cost of £1m, on the site of the old station, which dated back to 1918.

It is one of the most up-to-date RNLI facilities on the coast and includes an inshore lifeboat house, crew changing facilities, a training room and offices.

After unveiling a commemorative plaque to formally open the new lifeboat station the Duchess unveiled a bronze bust of Whitby's most celebrated lifeboatman, Henry Freeman, sculpted by artist Richard Sefton.

She then named the new inshore lifeboat, bought with the proceeds of a legacy from long-time RNLI supporter Olive Stone from Barnsley, the OEM Stone III.

Miss Stone, a former headmistress, bought two lifeboats before her death in 2001 - one for the RNLI's relief fleet and Whitby's previous D-class inshore lifeboat.

And today her niece Margaret Gadsby formally handed over the new boat to the care of the RNLI.

She said: "Aunty Olive would be very proud that her lifeboat was being named by the Duchess of Kent.

"She was once rescued by a lifeboat when she was a little girl, when she went on a picnic with her family to Spurn Point and got into difficulties, and her support for the RNLI stems from that incident."

Lifeboat coxswain Mike Russell said: "This is a very big day for the crew, our families, and the many supporters of the RNLI in Whitby."

A service of dedication was conducted by the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Robert Ladds, and music for the ceremony was provided by the Yorkshire Volunteer Band and Marske Fishermen's Choir.