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The Hampshire Rose Appeal was led by famed yachtsman Sir Alec Rose in 1973 with the aim of raising money for a new self righting 37 foot Rother class lifeboat. The appeal which was centred in Hampshire eventually raised nearly £70,000 toward the cost of build, and on the first of June 1975 Sir Alec officially handed the boat over to the RNLI in the presence of HRH The Queen Mother. The ceremony took place at HMS Vernon which, now more than thirty years on, is the site of the Gunwharf Quays Development and home berth of The Hampshire Rose. The Hampshire Rose was a serving lifeboat from 1975 to 1992, during which time she was launched 146 times and saved 59 lives. Her wooden double ended hull represents the end of a tradition in lifeboat design that lasted more than two centuries. She is now in private ownership and is operating for pleasure trips, day charter, special event hire and dockside static charter.
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