On Thursday April 11 in front of RNLI Hastings lifeboat station stood two different forms of transport, linked by the fact that without the sale of the one the other would not have been there.
Northamptonshire businessman Richard Colton left two Ferraris to the RNLI when he died at the age of eighty-two in March 2015. According to his godson, Charles Denton, he was a shy, private man who loved technology.
Both cars were sold as part of an H & H Classics auction later that year at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire. It was standing-room only when the spotlight settled on the two final lots in the afternoon. John Mayhead, writing on behalf of the auctioneers, said, “the end result was a scintillating auction which achieved record prices for the cars. With nothing charged in commission or for entry fees and transport, the maximum amount possible was able to be given to the RNLI. It was something that truly provided Richard Colton with a lasting legacy that his family can be truly proud of.”
Speaking after the auction Simon Hope, MD of H & H Classics, observed: “This has been a dream result for us. We have worked relentlessly with the RNLI over the last few months promoting the cars all over the world to ensure we honoured the memory of Richard Colton properly.”
The 1960 red Ferrari 250 GT SWB sold for £6.6 million while the silver 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 sold for £1.93 million. This resulted in the largest donation in the history of the RNLI and it has provided Hastings lifeboat station with a brand new Shannon lifeboat. Peter Adams, LOM (Lifeboat Operations Manager) at Hastings commented, “it is wonderful that people hold the RNLI in such high esteem.”
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet and is capable of moving at a speed of twenty-five knots. Her use of water jets instead of propellers makes her the most agile and manoeuvrable RNLI all-weather lifeboat, allowing her both to operate in shallow waters and to be intentionally beached as well as to be placed with great precision alongside a stricken vessel or to navigate around hazards.
It was a very poignant moment seeing the lifeboat and the car standing proudly next to each other with the volunteer crew, sporting their new all-weather crew kit sponsored by Helly Hansen. Richard Colton was known to have said that he wanted to leave a legacy – and he certainly has.
Image Credits: kt Bruce .