Aberdeen Lifeboat Station

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Aberdeen Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Aberdeen Lifeboat Station (geograph 2906424).jpg
Aberdeen Lifeboat Station
Aberdeenshire UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Aberdeen, Scotland
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationVictoria Dock Entrance
AddressWaterloo Quay
Town or city Aberdeen, AB11 5DF
Country Scotland, UK
Coordinates 57°08′39″N2°04′52″W / 57.14413°N 2.08103°W / 57.14413; -2.08103
Opened1802
1925 RNLI
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/aberdeen-lifeboat-station

Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is located at the entrance to Victoria Dock, in the harbour city of Aberdeen, in the historic county of Aberdeenshire.

Contents

A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1802 by the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society, taken over by the Abderdeen Harbour Commissioners in 1810. The management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1925. [1]

17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248) in 2017. RNLB Bon Accord (33804473071).jpg
17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248) in 2017.

The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, the 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248), since 2000, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, the Buoy Woody 85N (D-830), since 2018. [2]

History

In a great storm of January 1800, a considerable number of ships were wrecked off the Aberdeenshire coast. [3] This prompted moves for a lifeboat in Aberdeen. However, public donations failed to be sufficient, and it was Alexander Baxter of Glassel, Lord Rector of Marischal College, who would fund the first lifeboat for the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society. [4]

A 10-oared lifeboat was constructed built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, arriving in Aberdeen in 1802. [1] Only one boat of this type survives to this day, and is on display at Zetland lifeboat museum in Redcar. [5]

The lifeboat was stationed at Footdee, on the north side on the entrance to Aberdeen harbour, at the mouth (or foot) of the River Dee. The first lifeboat house is marked next to the Observatory (Port Entrance Control Tower) at Abercromby Jetty on Thomas Telford's map of 1828. [6] A later one appears on the 1865 map, larger, and nearer to the Pilot Square houses. By 1901, two lifeboat houses were in operation, one at the north corner of North Square, Footdee, and a second boathouse, on the landing jetty at Lower Quay. [7]

In 1923, the RNLI brought a motor-lifeboat to Aberdeen on demonstration. At this time, one of the lifeboats still in use at Aberdeen was 70 years old. After much discussion, the lifeboats and equipment of Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners were handed over to the RNLI on 1 January 1925. [8]

Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669) at Whitby Lifeboat Museum RNLI Lifeboat 'Robert and Ellen Robson' - geograph.org.uk - 1579531.jpg
Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669) at Whitby Lifeboat Museum

A 34-foot Self-righting lifeboat was placed at the No.2 station at North Square, Footdee in 1925, the Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669). She would later serve at Whitby from 1947, the last Pulling and Sailing lifeboat (one with oars and sail) on service with the RNLI. The boat has been restored, and currently is on display at the RNLI Lifeboat Museum at Whitby.

Between 1924 and 1962, the No.2 station boat was launched on service only seven times, the majority of calls being taken by the larger No.1 station lifeboat. The No.2 station was formally closed on 23 April 1962. After some years unused, and a period with the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, the building was later demolished. [8]

Back in 1825, a 40-foot Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat was placed temporarily at the No.1 station, the William Roberts (ON 505), but this boat was soon replaced with a motor-powered 60-foot Barnett lifeboat, Emma Constance (ON 693), one of only three of this type and size to enter service with the RNLI. Too large to be housed in a boathouse, from this time, the No.1 station lifeboat would be permanently afloat. [2]

In 2000, the Aberdeen station would receive their sixth 'afloat' lifeboat, the RNLB 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248). [2]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Aberdeen. [1] [9]

Lt. Henry Randall, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1825
Lt. John Procter Sanderson, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1830
Lt. Thomas William Langton, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1830
James Robinson, Steam Tug Owner - 1844
Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1937
Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1937 (Second-Service clasp)
Albert William Bird, Coxswain - 1974
Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic - 1974
Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1936
Alexander Weir, Mechanic - 1937
John Masson, crew member - 1937
George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain - 1937
Robert James Brown Esson, Acting Motor Mechanic - 1937
Charles Begg, Second Coxswain - 1976
George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain - 1937
James Cowper, Second Assistant Mechanic - 1937
Robert James Brown Esson, Assistant Mechanic - 1937
John M Noble, crew member - 1937
Alexander S Masson, crew member - 1937
George Alan Flett, Coxswain - 1953
George Alan Flett, Coxswain - 1956
George Walker, Assistant Mechanic - 1974
F. Cruickshank, crew member - 1974
A. Walker, crew member - 1974
Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic - 1976
William Grieve Deans, Lifeboat Operations Manager - 2018QBH [10]
Rebecca Allen - 2024KBH [11]

Aberdeen lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

No. 1 Station

ON [a] Op. No. [b] NameIn service [12] ClassComments
––Unnamed1802–1820 Greathead-class 10 OarRun by Harbour Commissioners
Station Closed 1820–1841
––Unnamed1841–185730-foot PullingRun by Harbour Commissioners
––Bon Accord I1857–1924Self-Righting PullingRun by Harbour Commissioners
505–William Roberts1925–192640-foot Watson-class (P&S)
693–Emma Constance1926–1951 60-foot Barnett
889–Hilton Briggs1951–1958 52-foot Barnett
944–Ramsay Dyce1958–1976 52-foot Barnett
105052-05B.P. Forties1976–1998 Arun
113552-39Mickie Salvesen1998–2000 Arun
124817-24Bon Accord2000– Severn

No. 2 Station

ON [a] NameIn service [12] ClassComments
–Bon Accord II1875–1924Self-Righting PullingRun by Harbour Commission
669Robert and Ellen Robson1924–193934-foot Self-righting (Rubie-class) (P&S)
827George and Elizabeth Gow1939–1943 Liverpool
669Robert and Ellen Robson1943–194734-foot Self-righting (Rubie-class) (P&S)
827George and Elizabeth Gow1947–1962 Liverpool

Launch and recovery tractors (Aberdeen No.2)

Op. No. [b] Reg. No.TypeIn service [2] Comments
T8AF 4256Clayton1925–1938
T18PY 7589Clayton1939–1939(Stored Aberdeen, 1939–1942)
T33FYP 356Case L1939–1944
T5IJ 3424Clayton1944–1947
T33FYP 356Case L1947–1957
T40JXR 67Case LA1957–1962
Station Closed, 23 April 1962

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [b] NameIn service [2] ClassComments
D-168unnamed1968–1981 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-281Sewing Machine Times1981–1989 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-386Trevor Edwin Jones1989–1998 D-class (EA16)
D-536Margaret II1998–2008 D-class (EA16)
D-694James Bissett Simpson2008–2018 D-class (IB1)
D-830Buoy Woody - 85N2018– D-class (IB1) [13]
  1. 1 2 ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 3 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Aberdeen's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. ↑ Kenn, Ian. "A Spate of Shipwrecks (1800)". Portal to Portlethen. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Chronicle of the nineteenth century : with supplement, 1901-1908". Internet Archive. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Zetland Lifeboat Museum and Redcar Heritage Centre". Zetland Museum. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Telford, Thomas. "Plan for improving the harbour of Aberdeen". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Aberdeenshire LXXV.12". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 Trewren, Norman (1985). The Lifeline (1st ed.). Shell UK. pp. 1–158. ISBN   095107380X.
  9. ↑ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
  10. ↑ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  12. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
  13. ↑ McNeill, Terry (21 April 2019). "New Aberdeen lifeboat named for men lost in helicopter tragedy". RNLI. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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