THE family of tragic Kidderminster man Stuart Frost are "immensely proud" that a new Severn Area Rescue Association will be launched in his memory.

Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) will officially launch and dedicate the inshore lifeboat to their colleague Stuart Frost W26 - who was tragically killed in a car crash last year - at a special ceremony on Saturday, January 21.

There will be short ceremony at Stourport Boat Club to dedicate and bless the boat, SARA 26.

Stuart, 42, was killed in a car crash on March 21, 2016, on the A450 Worcester Road.

Stuart's father, Ian Frost, said: "We are immensely proud to see the newest boat officially launched and to see Stuart's name living on and supporting SARA in their future rescue missions and we know that Stuart would be extremely proud.

"We, in turn, will do what we can to help and support SARA and cannot thank them enough for all that they have done and especially for the boat launch and naming."

Mr Frost added: "Stuart joined SARA when he returned to Kidderminster, to study at Worcester University and re-train as a nurse, having been a volunteer lifeboat crew person when he was living in Weston-super-Mare. He loved the sea and felt that SARA was as near to it as he could get in the landlocked Midlands.

"Stuart always explained that SARA was like an extended family and he thoroughly enjoyed his time with them, making some superb friends and enhancing and refreshing his boat, rescue and first aid skills.

"He gained a reputation within SARA for his 'sunglasses selfies' - rarely being photographed without his shades and looking like a 'real cool dude'.

"Following Stuart's tragic death, the crew and "family" of SARA Kidderminster, were extremely supportive to Kath, Emma and I and excelled at his funeral with the cortege and the guard of honour provided. The announcement at that time, that they intended to honour Stuart by naming their newest rescue boat after him, was both a surprise and a delight.

"The fact that all of the SARA family do what do on a voluntary basis and only with charitable funding, is a credit to each and every one of them and I would urge everyone to support them whenever and however they can."

SARA requested government funding for a new boat two years ago and received a grant of £13,000.

Nick Harvey, senior crew member, said: "Our colleague, Stuart, was tragically killed in a car crash last year and we decided to name the boat after him. We are doing a small ceremony to launch the boat and Stuart's family have allowed us to remember him in this way.

"Stuart was a close friend and the thought that he will live on at the station, with a boat in his memory is fantastic.

"It was extremely sad circumstances how he was killed. But at our Wyre Forest base, we will always have a remembrance of him."

For more information about the Wyre Forest SARA station, visit sara-wyreforest.org.uk. The website has been created by Kidderminster estate agents Walton & Hipkiss - whose managing director, Andrew Hipkiss, volunteers for SARA.