AN OFFICIAL unveiling and naming ceremony for Barmouth RNLI’s new vessel will take place this Sunday.

Barmouth RNLI’s new D class inshore lifeboat will bear the name Craig Steadman in honour of the 28-year-old Holyhead lifeboat crew member who died in August 2015 when the motorbike he was riding was involved in a collision on the A55 near Llanfairpwll.

Craig’s mother and father Sharon and Ray will play a central part in a moving ceremony to officially name and dedicate the lifeboat in Barmouth Lifeboat Station on Sunday.

In front of hundreds of invited guests including Craig’s family and friends, volunteer lifeboat crew from Holyhead and Barmouth lifeboat stations, fund-raisers and RNLI and community dignitaries, Ray will hand the new lifeboat to RNLI council member rear admiral Mark Kerr, who will accept it on behalf of the Institution.

Rear admiral Kerr will then present the lifeboat to Barmouth RNLI and Sharon will officially name the lifeboat in memory of her son with the customary pouring of champagne over the bow.

At the end of the ceremony the lifeboat will, weather depending, take to the water with one of Craig’s favourite song playing – Thunderstruck by AC/DC.

Sharon said: “Craig was a very loyal and respected RNLI crew member in Holyhead. He was very caring, incredibly kind and helpful to a fault. If anybody needed help in any way, Craig would be there. He had very large wings and sheltered many in need under them.

“Sadly, his life was cut short at 28 years old. Through this lifeboat, Craig will live on. He will continue to help people, as he always did in life.”

The D class lifeboat has been funded thanks to a mammoth joint fund-raising effort by Holyhead and Barmouth RNLI lifeboat stations.

Both stations were tasked with raising half the £48,000 cost of the boat, which specialises in rescues in shallower water closer to the shore.

They received huge support from Craig’s family, who undertook a number of fund-raising challenges, as well as RNLI fund-raising branches from as far afield as the West Midlands and Black Country and the general public in both communities.

The appeal was kick-started last year by Craig’s brother Richard and in April he led a team of cyclists peddling from Holyhead to Barmouth lifeboat stations.

Other fund-raising events included skydives, endurance swims, New Year’s day dips, sponsored walks and countless other events and generous donations.

Ray added: “As Craig’s father I am immensely proud of what he achieved in his short life and his dedication to saving lives at sea with the RNLI.

“It is very humbling to see the high regard he held with the volunteer crew at Holyhead RNLI lifeboat station, such that they set about raising funds, along with the volunteers at Barmouth, to provide a lifeboat bearing Craig’s name. Craig’s passion for saving lives at sea will go on so thank you to all that made this become a reality.”

Barmouth RNLI Coxswain Peter Davies concluded: “Today is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by so many people and the thanks of everyone at Barmouth RNLI goes out to all of them.

“Receiving a new lifeboat is a special day for any crew but to be getting a lifeboat bearing Craig’s name is a special honour. We will make sure the lifeboat and her crew do Craig and his family proud for years into the future.”