Longhope Lifeboat Station | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Lifeboat station |
Location | Longhope, Orkney |
Address | Longhope Pier, Longhope, Orkney, KW16 3PG |
Country | United Kingdom |
Coordinates | 58°48′05″N3°12′20″W / 58.8013°N 3.2055°W |
Opened | 2003 |
Cost | £450,000 |
Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
Website | |
rnli |
Longhope Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Longhope on the island of South Walls, in Orkney, Scotland. It opened in 1874 and since 2004 has operated a Tamar-class lifeboat. In 1969 its lifeboat and crew of eight were lost during a rescue mission.
A lifeboat station was built at Brims on Hoy and the lifeboat was first launched on 25 September 1874. [1] It was always known as 'Longhope' after the larger town on the adjacent island of South Walls. It was replaced in 1906 by a new station with a slipway at Brims. The boathouse was modified in 1990 when new crew facilities were installed in the roof space but it was closed in 2003 and a new one opened at Longhope. A pontoon mooring was provided so that the Arun-class could be moored afloat. [2] The old station on Hoy subsequently became the Longhope Lifeboat Museum. [3]
The Irene, a Liberian tanker which was adrift with no fuel in the Pentland Firth on the evening of 17 March 1969. The Longhope lifeboat T.G.B. was launched and made its way through high seas and snow flurries towards the disabled vessel. It radioed its position at 9:28 but was never heard from again. The Kirkwall Clyde-class lifeboat was in the area and was sent to look for the Longhope lifeboat. It was later joined by lifeboats from Stronsay, Thurso and Stromness. It was found capsized by the Thurso crew the following afternoon and towed to Scrabster. [4] [5] [6]
There had been eight men on board when it launched: Coxswain Daniel Kirkpatrick, his sons Daniel R Kikpatrick and John Kirkpatrick; Mechanic Robert Johnston, his sons James Johnston and Robert Johnston; along with Eric McFadyen and James Swanson. Swanson was never found but the bodies of the other seven were recovered from inside the lifeboat. [4]
Benjamin Stout, the lifeboat's coxswain, was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal for leading the rescue of 22 people from the ssVictoria which was sinking in the Pentland Firth on 3 March 1891. Half of the rescued people were German so the Emperor of the Germans gave a gold watch to the coxswain and money to the crew. [2]
Coxswain John Swanson was awarded a silver medal after rescuing the crew from the trawler Braconmoor which ran aground on 5 January 1930. He was awarded for another silver service to another trawler, the Dorbie, which was wrecked on 9 January 1932. [2]
The lifeboat was launched on 12 April 1951 to aid the tanker Oljaren of Gothenburg which had gone ashore. 40 people were rescued, but it took 23 hours to do so. The Swedish government gave a cash award to the crew and coxswain Alfred Johnston received an RNLI bronze medal. A silver medal was also awarded to Daniel Kirkpatrick for the rescue by breeches buoy of 14 people from a trawler on 4 February 1959. He was given two more silver awards for rescues on 3 January 1964 and 1 April 1968. [2] This meant that he was the person at that time with three silver medals, however he was drowned while attempting to aid the Irene on 17 March 1969. [4]
Another bronze medal was awarded for saving 11 people from the trawler Ross Tern which ran aground on Swona. The coxswain on this occasion was Jack Leslie. The RNLI's chairman sent a framed 'Letter of Thanks' to Leslie and the crew after they attended a chemical tanker which was on fire, along with the Thurso lifeboat, on 19 March 1999. [2]
A yacht named Dasher with a crew of three got into difficulty in high wind on 27 August 2004. The lifeboat went to their aid in the difficult conditions, after which coxswain Kevin Kirkpatrick received the 'Thanks of the Institution inscribe don Vellum' and mechanic John Budge was given a framed 'Letter of Thanks' form the chairman. On 11 November 2007 the lifeboat was launched in a Force 12 storm to aid three men who had been injured on a tanker. Doctor Christine Bradshaw was transferred to the tanker by a helicopter winch. She was later awarded an RNLI bronze medal and the lifeboat crew received a framed 'Letter of Thanks'. [2]
'ON' is the Official Number used in RNLI records from 1884.
'Op. No.' is the Operational Number of the boat displayed on the boat.
At Longhope | ON | Op. No. | Name | Class | Built | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1874–1886 | – | – | Dickinson Edleston | 1874 | 37 ft (11 m) boat with 12 oars. [1] | |
1891–1904 | 307 | – | Samyntas Stannah | Standard Self-Righter | 1891 | [7] |
1904–1906 | 291 | – | Christopher North Graham | Standard Self-Righter | 1890 | Originally built for Thorpeness Lifeboat Station. [8] |
1906–1926 | 550 | – | Ann Miles | Watson | 1905 | [9] |
1926–1933 | 698 | – | K.T.J.S. | Watson | 1926 | First motor lifeboat at Longhope. [10] |
1933–1962 | 759 | – | Thomas McCunn | Watson | 1933 | Preserved at Longhope Lifeboat Museum. [11] |
1962–1969 | 962 | – | T.G.B. | Watson | 1962 | Transferred to Arranmore after the disaster of 17 March 1969. It was withdrawn in 1986 and put on display at the Scottish Maritime Museum. [12] |
1970 | 889 | – | Hilton Briggs | Barnett | 1951 | Originally stationed at Aberdeen, withdrawn from Invergordon in 1975. Sold and used as a pleasure boat. [13] |
1970–1988 | 1010 | 48-007 | David and Elizabeth King and E. B. | Solent | 1970 | Sold in 1990 and now a pleasure boat at Bowling. [14] |
1988–1999 | 1138 | 47-025 | Lord Saltoun | Tyne | 1988 | [15] |
1999–2004 | 1098 | 52–28 | Sir Max Aitken II | Arun | 1984 | Originally stationed at Stornoway. Withdrawn in 2005 and sold for further use as a lifeboat in China. [16] |
2004–2006 | 1149 | 52–43 | The Queen Mother | Arun | 1989 | Originally stationed at Thurso. Sold in 2009 for use as a pilot boat at Montevideo. [15] |
2006– | 1284 | 16–05 | Helen Comrie | Tamar | 2006 | [17] |
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.
Blyth Lifeboat Station is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and currently operates a D-class (IB1) Sally Forth (D-878) and a B-class lifeboat Patricia Southall (B-923)
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston – two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.
Angle Lifeboat Station, Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, first opened in 1868 after a request from the local Coastguard for a lifeboat station to be opened within the Milford Haven Waterway. Originally called Milford Lifeboat Station, in 1892 the name was officially changed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) committee.
Falmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Falmouth, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1867 and the present station was opened in 1993. It operates a Severn Class all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Appledore Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Appledore, Devon in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1825 and the present station was opened in 2001. It operates a Tamar-class all-weather boat (AWB) and an Atlantic 85 B Class inshore lifeboat (ILB).
St Ives Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at St Ives, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was built for the town in 1840 and the present boathouse was opened in 1994. It operates a Shannon-class all weather boat (AWB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Penlee Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for Mount's Bay in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The lifeboat station operated at various locations in Penzance from the early 19th century. It moved to Penlee Point near Mousehole in 1913, thus gaining its current name, but was moved to Newlyn in 1983 without any change of name. The station is remembered for the loss of the entire lifeboat crew on 19 December 1981.
Weymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Weymouth in Dorset, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. Since 2002 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Salcombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Salcombe, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. The Salcombe Lifeboat has twice capsized, in 1916 with the loss of 13 lives, and in 1983 with no loss of life. Since 2008 the station has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Teignmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Teignmouth, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1851 but the station was closed from 1940 until 1990. Since 2006 it has operated an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed at Sennen Cove in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Exmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Exmouth, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1803 and the present station was opened in 2009. In 2014 a new Shannon-class 25-knot all-weather boat (ALB) went on station. Also operated is a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
The Valentia Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution station located at Knightstown, Valentia Island, County Kerry, Ireland.
Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) marine rescue facility in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, Scotland.
Clovelly Lifeboat Station, serving the North Devon village of Clovelly and surrounding coastal waters, is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). It was established in 1870. The station is flanked by Appledore to the northeast and Bude to the southwest.
Barmouth Lifeboat Station is located in Barmouth, a town at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach river in Gwynedd, Wales. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.
Thurso Lifeboat Station is located at Scrabster Harbour, in the NE corner of Scotland, near the town of Thurso, Highland, in the historic county of Caithness.
A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1860.
Aith Lifeboat Station is located at Aith, on the island of Shetland, and is the most northerly of the 238 Royal National Lifeboat Institution Lifeboat Stations. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the RNLI in 1933.