Return visit for retired lifeboat

Elizabeth Rippon launching from St Helier when she was in service

A 60-year-old lifeboat which was in service in Jersey has returned to the island for a visit.

Now in private ownership, the Elizabeth Rippon was a state-of-the-art RNLI lifeboat when she was built in 1948.

The Watson class lifeboat arrived on station at St Helier in October 1948 where she remained until 1975.

Elizabeth Rippon was the first British lifeboat with a covered deck cabin and aluminium alloy structure. Her top speed of 8 knots was considered fast.

St Helier's new Tamar class lifeboat George Sullivan, which came into service this year, has a top speed of 25 knots.

The Elizabeth Rippon is moored at a pontoon beside the lifeboat station.