Crew members, family and other guests gathered at Caister Lifeboat Station for the official naming ceremony of the service's £1.8m new vessel.

The boat will now sail under the name the Annette Thurlow, wife of former coxswain Dick Thurlow and mother of current coxswain Richard Thurlow and crewmember Aaron Thurlow.

It is thought to be the first time lifeboatmen will serve on a craft named after their mother.

Richard said: "It is a special day. It's an emotional day for the family. It will be nice to have my mum looking after me when we're out on a launch."

A nurse at the heart of lifeboat life

Annette Thurlow, a community nurse in Caister who died at the age of 58.(Image: Supplied by family)

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Annette Thurlow worked as a community nurse for more than 30 years and was known for her diligence, compassion and discretion.

She was also deeply involved in lifeboat life, once even going out on a shout herself.

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's she had to cut her career short.

She

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