A lifeboat was first provided by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1835, located at Spittal, and managed by the Berwick Lifeboat Association. The station closed in 1852, when the lifeboat was deemed unfit for service, but was reopened in 1855 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[1]
The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Penny J (B-940), on station since 2024, and a smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Vi and Charles Hogbin (D-777), on station since 2015.[2]
History
On 9 November 1834, the vessel Christiana, on passage from Stockholm, capsized and sank off Berwick-upon-Tweed with the loss of all hands.[3] A few days later, H.M. Coastguard officer Capt. Hay, RN, wrote to the RNIPLS, to request that a lifeboat be placed at Berwick upon Tweed. Further letters followed from Mr. Thomas Gilchrist, Town Clerk, and Mr. Robert Home, Solicitor.[1]
The request was agreed, and a 26-foot non-self-righting Palmer-type lifeboat was transported to Berwick by steam-packet, arriving on 30 January 1835. A boathouse was constructed at Spittal, on the south bank of the River Tweed. Funds for the provision of the lifeboat had been found locally. The lifeboat was handed to the care of the Berwick Lifeboat Association, with Robert Home appointed Honorary Secretary.[1]
When the schoonerMargaret was driven ashore at Spittal on 8 April 1838, the Berwick lifeboat was launched into heavy seas. 6 crewmen were taken off the vessel, and returned to shore. Before the lifeboat could return, the vessel broke up, and the Master was drowned. Lt. David Rymer, RN, H.M. Coastguard, who was in charge of the lifeboat, was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal.[4][5][6]
On inspection in the early 1850s, the Berwick lifeboat was found to be unfit for service, and the Berwick Lifeboat Association didn't have the funds to replace the boat. On 2 November 1854, it was agreed that the RNLI would take over management of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboat Station. A new 30-foot Peake-class lifeboat was ordered from Forrestt, arriving in Berwick in October 1855. A new boathouse at Spittal was constructed in 1859, costing £149-5s-5d.[1]
The Berwick lifeboat would save 5 men from the schoonerEpimachus on 18 December 1861, on passage from South Shields to Fisherrow when she was damaged in a collision with a brig.[7]
The lifeboat was capsized on 29 March 1863 while on routine exercise. As a result, it was decided to provide a larger boat, and a 33-foot lifeboat arrived in April 1864. With approval from H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, the lifeboat was named Albert Victor after his recently born son, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale.[1]
On 1 January 1877, the Albert Victor was launched to the aid of the barqueResult of Guernsey, rescuing all 9 crew. Such was the cold, that all lifeboatmen suffered from exposure, and one lifeboatman Thomas Elliott later died.[8][9]
1901 Lifeboat Station
By 1900, there had long been difficulties raising a crew at Spittal. It was decided to relocate the lifeboat to the north bank of the River Tweed, on the Berwick town side, where a crew could always be found. A new boathouse was constructed at Ferry Landing in 1901, costing £867-2s-11d. It had doors at each end, so the boat could be launched one way into the river, or the other way on a carriage, to conveyed along the coast should that be required.[1]
The barqueJacob Rauers of Gothenburg, on passage to Grangemouth with timber, was wrecked in Marshall Meadows Bay on 29 March 1913. The Matthew Simpson (ON 512) was launched just after 9:30pm. Unable to get along side, the lifeboat used the method of 'veering down', by dropping anchor, and allowing a line out to get near the casualty. Getting within 60 feet (18m) of the Jacob Rauers, a line was thrown across, and one by one, 11 men were hauled through the surf to the lifeboat, landing them at Berwick at 2:00am. For this service, Coxswain Robert Burgon and Second Coxswain James Jamieson were awarded with Silver Medals from the Swedish Government. Burgon would also receive the RNLI Silver Medal. Robert Burgon would be drowned when his fishing boat sank in 1927[6][10][11]
In 1927, it was announced that a new motor-lifeboat would be placed at Berwick. A new boathouse and slipway needed to be constructed, with the most suitable site being back across the river again, on the south side at Spittal. It was completed in 1928, at a cost of £4,600, and the new boat, a 35ft 6in Self-righting motor lifeboat Westmorland (ON 727), arrived on 21 February 1930. However, after nine years, the RNLI had decided that a larger boat was required at Berwick. The Westmorland was sent away for overhaul in 1939, returning to service at Cullercoats in 1940. The Berwick station was closed while the 1928 boathouse was dismantled, and reconstructed just up river at Tweedmouth, on top of concrete pilings, with a deep-water slipway. This boathouse is still in use today. The station reopened when a 40ft 6in Watson motor lifeboat J. and W. (ON 722) was placed on service in 1940.[1][12]
In 1976, it was decided to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat, and place an Atlantic 21-class Inshore lifeboat on station. This decision was reversed some 17 years later in 1993, with the arrival of the 12m (39ft)Mersey-class lifeboat 12-32 Joy and Charles Beeby (ON 1191), named by HRH The Duchess of Kent in a ceremony at Carr Rock Pier. Modifications to the boathouse were required, and the Elizabeth Bestwick (B-541), adapted to be permanently afloat, was placed on service temporarily.[12]
Some 29 years later, after a period of evaluation, and with the consideration that fast 25-knot Shannon-class lifeboats had been placed at Seahouses to the south, and at Eyemouth just 8 miles (13km) to the north, it was announced in October 2022 that once again, the Berwick-upon Tweed All-weather lifeboat would be withdrawn, to be replaced once again with an Atlantic-class lifeboat.[13]
B-class (Atlantic 85)Pride of Fred. Olsen (B-913) was placed at Berwick in 2021, with the Mersey-class 12-32 Joy and Charles Beeby finally departing for the Relief fleet on the 15 April 2023.[2]
Station honours
The following are awards made at Berwick-upon-Tweed[6][12]
↑ 35ft 6in Self-righting motor lifeboat, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes. Single 35 hp Weyburn AE6 petrol-engine, giving 7.5 knots, costing £4,597
↑ 40ft 6in Watson-class motor lifeboat, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes. Single 50 hp Weyburn CE4 petrol-engine, giving 7.7 knots, costing £6,052
↑ 42ft Watson-class lifeboat, built by Wm. Osborne of Littlehampton. Twin 48 hp Gardner 4LW engines giving 8 knots, costing £29,500
↑ 12m Mersey-class lifeboat. FRC hull by Green Marine, fitted out by FBM Ltd of Cowes, twin 285 hp Caterpillar diesel-engines, giving 16 knots
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References
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Morris, Jeff (April 2000). The History of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp.1–38.
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