Aith Lifeboat Station

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Aith Lifeboat Station
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RNLI Aith Lifeboat Station, Shetland - geograph.org.uk - 152254.jpg
Aith Lifeboat Station
Shetland UK relief location map.jpg
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Aith, Shetland
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationAith Harbour
Address Aith,
Town or city Bixter, Shetland, ZE2 9NB
Country Scotland
Coordinates 60°17′11.0″N1°22′32.0″W / 60.286389°N 1.375556°W / 60.286389; -1.375556
Opened1933
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/aith-lifeboat-station

Aith Lifeboat Station is located at the village of 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. [1]

Contents

Since 1998, the station has operated a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-14 Charles Lidbury (ON 1232), only the fifth lifeboat to have served at Aith. [2]

History

Despite valiant attempts by Lerwick Life-Saving Company, and even the Stromness lifeboat stationed 120 miles away, wrecks such as that of the Aberdeen fishing trawler Ben Doran in March 1930, with the loss of all 9 crew, prompted the RNLI to station a lifeboat in Lerwick, and to look for a location to station a second lifeboat on the west of Shetland. [3]

It was decided to station a boat at Aith, as the village could provide sufficient crew, and because Aith Voe was one of the most sheltered mooring locations on the west coast. James Tait, DSM, was appointed Coxswain, another James Tait appointed Second Coxswain, and William Tait appointed Bowman. Charles Mowat, Assistant Mechanic at Lerwick, was appointed to be Aith Mechanic. [3]

The first boat on station in January 1933, and was a 45ft 6in Watson-class lifeboat, built in 1926 by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with a 80 h.p. engine delivering a speed of 8kts. She had previously served for seven years at Longhope, and was named K. T. J. S. (ON 698), in reference to her benefactors, Mr King, Mr Turnball, Mr Jesset and Mrs Sandford. [2] [1]

After a year, the RNLI announced that the Aith station was permanent, and a house was constructed for the Mechanic. A new boat was provided to Aith in 1935, a 51-foot Barnett-class lifeboat, constructed at Groves and Guttridge, of Cowes, and costing just over £9000. She was the gift of Miss Maggie Rankin, made in memory of her brothers, both Marine Engineers from Greenock, and was named The Rankin (ON 776) on 12 May 1935. In 25 years of service, she was launched 52 times, and saved 61 lives. [3]

Notable rescues

Just before 6:00am on the morning of 19 February 1967, the James and Frances Macfarlane (ON 956) was launched to the aid of the Aberdeen trawler Juniper, which had run aground in Lyra Sound, between Lyra Skerry and the west side of Papa Stour. Considerable skill, navigation and seamanship in force 8 conditions was required to bring the lifeboat to the side of Juniper, and to effect the rescue of the 12 crew. The lifeboat, crew and survivors landed in Aith at 9:35am. For this service, Coxswain John R. Nicholson was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, the rest of the crew being awarded "The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum". [4] Coxswain Nicholson would later receive the 1967 Maud Smith Award. [1]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Aith [1] [4]

John R Nicholson, Coxswain - 1967
John R Nicholson, Coxswain - 1968
Andrew Smith, Acting Second Coxswain - 1968
James Mason, Acting Bowman - 1968
Frank Johnston, Motor Mechanic - 1968
Wilbert Clark, Acting Assistant Mechanic - 1968
William Anderson, crew member - 1968
Kenneth Henry, crew member - 1968
A. James Tait, crew member - 1968
Hylton Henry, Coxswain - 1996
Ian Anderson, Deputy Second Coxswain - 1996
Kevin Henry, Mechanic - 1996
George Johnston, crew member - 1996
Ivor Moffat, crew member - 1996
Angus Ridland, crew member - 1996
Andrew Tait, crew member - 1996
Hylton Henry, Coxswain - 1996
John Robertson, Coxswain - 2021
Robbie Abernethy, Mechanic - 2021
Lewis Fraser, crew member - 2021
Luke Bullough, crew member - 2021
Nick McCaffrey, crew member - 2021
Ivor Moffat, crew member - 2021
Kenneth Hylton Henry - 1991 [6]

Aith lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op.No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [2] ClassComments
698−K. T. J. S.1933−1935 45ft 6in Watson [Note 1]
776−The Rankin1935−1961 51ft Barnett
956−John and Frances Macfarlane1961−1986 52ft Barnett
110052-030Snolda1986−1998 Arun
123217-14Charles Lidbury1998− Severn
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Named after the 4 benefactors, Mr King, Mr Turnball, Mr Jesset and Mrs Sandford.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Aith's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. 1 2 3 Morris, Jeff (September 1998). The History of the Aith Lifeboats (2nd ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–42.
  4. 1 2 Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0-907605-89-3.
  5. ↑ "Aith lifeboat crew recognised for its 'skill and tenacity'". Shetland News. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
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