The formal naming of the Tamar class lifeboat LESTER took place on Monday 8th September 2008.

HRH The Duke of Kent arrived at Cromer and, along with RNLI Chief Executive Andrew Freemantle, met station officials outside the Henry Blogg Museum before having a tour with museum manager Jacqui Palmer and Frank Muirhead.

Following lunch, the Duke met Senior ILB Helmsmen Martin Steward and Mearl Brown outside the ILB boathouse, before walking along the promenade to the Lifeguard Hut to meet RNLI Lifeguards. The Duke then continued along the promenade to the pier forecourt where the service for the naming began. Following the formal service of dedication led by the Rev. David Court, the Duke walked down the pier to the boathouse where he formally named the lifeboat LESTER.

Following a demonstration launch and exercise of LESTER, the Duke went to the pier pavilion where he met various sections of the lifeboat station, including shop volunteers, members of the Ladies' Guild and wives of the crew.

Th Duke was presented with a slate engraving of the lifeboat (made by Barbara West) by Stephanie Barker, daughter of 2nd Coxswain Ady, before leaving.