The 150th anniversary of Falmouth RNLI’s first lifeboat has been commemorated by the presentation of a quilt create especially to mark the milestone.

The quilt was made by Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters Group in Gloucester to commemorate the fact it is 150 years since the City of Gloucester raised money for Falmouth’s first lifeboat and the launching ceremony held in Gloucester Docks on April 9, 1867.

The launch was watched by an estimated crowd of 10,000 people ahead of the lifeboat being transported to Falmouth a few days later. The link between Falmouth and Gloucester RNLI has continued and the idea of a having a commemorative quilt made to present to Falmouth came about after Gloucester RNLI volunteer Fraser Gunn gave a talk to the patchwork and quilters group about the City of Gloucester lifeboat.

The Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters Group agreed to take on the project and after Fraser suggested the idea of including the Gloucestershire, Cornwall and RNLI flags, a design by local secondary school design teacher, Joy Salvage, was chosen. A group of 16, led by Anne Underhill, took on the various aspects of construction and the quilt was completed in June.

It was presented to Mark Killingback, chair of the Falmouth RNLI 150th appeal committee; and deputy chair, Paul Wickes; at Gloucester Docks in July. It was then handed over to Falmouth coxswain Jonathan Blakeston at Falmouth RNLI’s quayside service last month.

Jonathan said: "The station is very grateful to Gloucester RNLI for presenting us with this magnificent quilt and also to Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters Group for making it. The quilt will be proudly displayed at the station."