MORE than 100 descendants of a lifeboat crew will meet, a century after their ancestors took to the seas.

The James Stevens No.14 was Walton’s lifeboat from 1900 to 1928 and is the world’s oldest surviving motor lifeboat.

It returned to the town in 1998, thanks to the Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust. After a ten-year restoration project, costing £250,000, the vessel, which had become a houseboat, has been restored to its former RNLI splendour and will be relaunched in a fitting ceremony.

The descendants of the original crew will be joined by actor, comedian and TV presenter Griff Rhys Jones to launch the boat at Titchmarsh Marina on Saturday, September 5.

Among the descendants will be two grandsons of Henry Britton, the original coxswain.

Henry Harvey will be coming all the way from Cornwall and he will be joined by Joe Britton, a Chelsea pensioner.

Carol Cooper, from the heritage trust, said: “We have had a huge response to our tracing as many descendants as possible of the original crew, which was 50 in number between 1900 and 1928.”

The vessel, which will be open for viewing at the marina, is in the designated list of the National Register of Historic Vessels.

As well as being a floating exhibit of early 20th-century lifeboat design, she will also be available for trips.

Bookings can be made by e-mail to the trust chairman at brian.jennings 50@btinternet.com The restoration work was made possible by a £75,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as several other grants and sponsorships.

l The trust is still inviting descendants of the original crew to contact Carol Cooper on 01255 673705 or Carolyn Byford-Smith on 01255 671098.

The trust is also inviting voluntary organisations and charities to take up exhibition space at the launch day.

Bookings should be made through Linda Ellis on 01255 852993.