THE St Helier Lifeboat Appeal has been boosted by a surprise £10,000 bequest from a man who is believed to have gone to sea only once in his life.

Percy Spencer, who lived in Melton Mowbray and died at the age of 92, never visited the Island, but his son Dennis has lived here for 35 years. Dennis runs South Coast Cruises, who take visitors and local residents along the picturesque southern coastline on the 52-ft catamaran Southern Bay Rose.

He said that several years ago he mentioned to his father that Jersey would need a new lifeboat in the fairly near future. ‘It was a passing mention and Dad never said anything more at the time. In fact, when I read the will it came as a complete surprise because as far as I knew Dad only went to sea once during the war when he was posted to Egypt with the Veterinary Corps,’ he said.

Mr Spencer said that his father did not come to see him in Jersey because he was not keen on travelling far from home.

Pictured: Percy Spencer