A GENEROUS supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from Poole, who donated £1.5m for a lifeboat in honour of her husband, has left the service a further £100,000 in her will. 

Doreen Hogg bequeathed the money to the charity to allow it to keep on saving lives long after her passing. 

Mrs Hogg, who was married to the late Archie, arranged the legacy through solicitor Malcolm Scott Walby from Ellis Jones Solicitors, who is a trustee of her estate. 

Mr Scott Walby presented the donation at a wake at the RNLI headquarters in Poole following Mrs Hogg’s funeral. 

He said: “Doreen and Archie were dedicated supporters of the RNLI for many years. 

“It was a privilege to act as a trustee for Doreen and to make this very generous donation in her memory. 

“It means that lives can continue to be saved at sea for many years to come, thanks to her benevolence.”  

Six in 10 of the RNLI’s lifeboat launches are funded through legacy gifts

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Without the generosity of people like Doreen, we simply couldn’t keep our lifesaving service running.  

“Anyone can leave a gift to the RNLI in their will, and we are thrilled that Doreen chose to support us with donations in her lifetime, through her trust and in her legacy. 

“The £100,000 donation has come from the will trust that Doreen set up after her legacy to give a regular income to the RNLI and we are very grateful to her.” 

Mrs Doreen Hogg standing in front of the RNLB Ettrick Shepherd Hogg Hardie for which Mrs Hogg donated £1.5m in memory of her husband Archie. She attended a naming ceremony in 2021 at the RNLI headquarters in Poole Picture: Bournemouth Caledonian Society.

Mr and Mrs Hogg were both great lovers of the sea, spending much time on the water. They moved from Newcastle to Poole where they became big supporters of the RNLI.   

Mrs Hogg donated £1.5m to the RNLI for a lifeboat in memory of Archie following his death in 2018.  

She was the guest of honour when the vessel was named ‘RNLB Ettrick Shepherd Hogg Hardie’ at a ceremony at the RNLI headquarters in 2021.  

Doreen and Archie were also enthusiastic members of the Bournemouth Caledonian Society.  

Four friends from the group who knew Archie joined Doreen when she attended the naming ceremony, which included a piper, brass band and sea shanties.  

A minister conducted an open air service before champagne was poured over the bow. 

Mrs Hogg, who lived in a flat overlooking Poole Harbour, died aged 91 earlier this year. Her funeral was held at Poole Crematorium.  

The RNLI saved 355 lives in 2023 and helped 84 people a day with 9,192 lifeboat crews launched. It celebrates its 200th anniversary this year.