Bridlington Lifeboat Station

Bridlington Lifeboat Station
Bridlington Lifeboat Station from the south
Location within the East Riding of Yorkshire
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire
Country	England
Coordinates	54°04′43″N0°11′52″W / 54.0785°N 0.1978°W / 54.0785; -0.1978
Opened	2017
Cost	£3 million [1]
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Official webpage

Bridlington Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Having been instituted in 1805, it is the oldest working RNLI lifeboat location in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. ^[2]

A new lifeboat station was opened closer to the sea in September 2017, replacing an older facility built in 1903. There are two lifeboats based at Bridlington; a Shannon-class Class All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB), 13-22 Antony Patrick Jones (ON1329), and a D-Class Lifeboat Ernie Wellings (D-852). ^[3]

History

In 1804, the residents of Bridlington raised the £150 needed to pay for a lifeboat, which became operational in 1805 with the first lifeboat house recorded as being operational in 1806. In December 1852, the local committee in charge of the boat relinquished control to the RNLI after they took the decision not to launch during bad weather. This was seen as the wrong decision, as three men on a stricken ship drowned, and so the committee decided the best option was to transfer control to the RNLI. ^[4]

A lifeboat station was built near to the harbour, but was vacated in 1903 in favour of a new build slightly to the south along Marine Drive. ^[5]

In 1871, a huge storm hit the east coast of England and became known as the Great Gale of 1871. Many boats were wrecked, including The Harbinger, a private lifeboat which is sometimes erroneously referred to as an RNLI boat. The storm took its toll on dozens of ships, which were trying to stay safe in Bridlington Bay, which was sometimes referred to as the Bay of Safety. Between 70 and 150 people died, including six members of the lifeboat crew from The Harbinger. ^[6] At the time, the RNLI boat was known as the Institution Boat and The Harbinger was known as the Fishermen's Boat. ^[7] After the gale, it was commented upon by some, that the design of The Harbinger led to its capsizing. A local benefactor paid for a new boat (The Seagull), of a new design and paid for a lifeboathouse to accommodate it, something that The Harbinger never had and she later became weathered after being exposed to the elements. ^[8]

Between 1884 and 1898, there was as secondary lifeboat in the village of Barmston some 6 miles (9.7 km) to the south of Bridlington. This was crewed by the RNLI men from Bridlington, though how long it would take them to reach the lifeboathouse at Barmston from Bridlington is unknown. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

A lifeboat station was opened in 1903 on South Marine Drive, ^[12] and in 1921, along with Boulmer Lifeboat Station, Bridlington undertook trials in launching lifeboats across open beaches into water with the aid of a specially adapted tractor. ^[13]

In 2017, the previous lifeboat station on South Marine Drive in the town, was replaced with a larger facility on the seashore which enabled the RNLI to house both their All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and their Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) in the same facility. Previous to this, the ILB was housed in a separate facility from the ALB. ^[14] The new build lifeboat station also allows the launch vehicle and boat to stay permanently fixed when not in use. This allows for a speedier deployment into the sea when an emergency call is made. ^[15]

Notable launches

Old Bridlington Lifeboat Station

Great Gale of 1871

Main article: Great Gale of 1871

The Bridlington RNLI Lifeboat was launched many times and rescued 16 people from three wrecked ships. ^[2] The local rescue boat, Harbinger, a gift from Count Gustave Batthyany, also took to the sea and rescued sailors, but capsized and six of her crew of nine were drowned. ^[16]

Seagull Lifeboat (1898)

After the sinking of The Harbinger, a private donation paid for a second lifeboat (outwith of the RNLI's responsibility) which was called The Seagull. This operated in conjunction with the RNLI lifeboat until 25 March 1898, when the RNLI were called out to rescue the crew of The Seagull. The Seagull had been dashed against the sea-wall and ropes had been thrown to aid the crew. One of the RNLI crewman who had been decorated for his bravery during the Great Gale of 1871, drowned during the rescue. ^{[17] [18]}

March 1915

Whilst the lifeboat was being launched to go to a stricken Minesweeper in Bridlington bay, one of the carriage horse riders was knocked off his horse, swept out to sea and drowned. ^[19] Two of the horses and all twelve sailors aboard the minesweeper drowned too.

The Tillie Morrison, Sheffield (1952)

On 19 August 1952, two girls, Joan Ellis and Gillian Fox, were swimming in the sea off the coast at Flamborough when they got into difficulties. The Flamborough lifeboat could not be launched as its slipway was under repair, so the Bridlington lifeboat, the Tillie Morrison, Sheffield was launched instead. Unfortunately, both girls drowned and during the search, and the lifeboat was capsized by rough seas, killing one of the lifeboatmen, bowman Robert Redhead. It was later speculated that the Bridlington lifeboat crew were unfamiliar with the area they were searching, and so were not aware of the dangerous waters around Flamborough Head. ^[20] A plaque at Thornwick Bay commemorates the tragedy. ^[21]

Station Honours

The following are awards made at Bridlington ^{[22] [23]}

• RNLI Silver Medal

John Usher - 1828

George Gray - 1834

Thomas Frankish, ‘a youth’ - 1865

Henry Hutchinson, fisherman - 1890

Christopher Brown - 1893

Fred Brown - 1893

Thomas Clark - 1893

Richard Purvis - 1893

John Usher - 1893

John Edward King, Coxswain - 1973

• RNLI Bronze Medal

John E King, Coxswain - 1968

John E King, Coxswain - 1972 (Second-Service clasp)

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1979

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 2000 (Second Service Clasp)

Andrew Brompton, Assistant Mechanic - 2000

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

John E King, Coxswain - 1967

H T Wood - 1967

Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1968

John E King, Coxswain - 1969

F Walkington, crew member - 1970

George William Traves, crew member - 1973

Denis Atkins, crew member - 1973

Roderick William Stott, crew member - 1973

Anthony John Ayre, crew member - 1973

Fred Walkington, crew member - 1973

Kenneth Bently crew member - 1973

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1980

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1985

Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1986

Adrian Trower, Helmsman - 2006

• A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

R Cooper - 1967

Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1969

Coxswain John E King and the five remaining crew members - 1970

John E King, Coxswain - 1972

K Bentley, crew member - 1972

Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1989

Andrew Day, Helmsman - 2000

Duncan Stewart, Helmsman - 2004

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Fred Walkington, Retired Coxswain - 2001 ^[24]

Roland Stork, Former Coxswain - 2004 ^[25]

• British Empire Medal

Richard Dunk - 2019 ^[26]

Bridlington Lifeboats

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, named the current Shannon-class Lifeboat in April 2018, but the boat had been operational since November 2017.

All-Weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1]	Op. No. [lower-alpha 2]	Name	In service	Class	Comments
–	–	Unknown	1805–1824		Cost defrayed by Lloyd's of London [27]
–	–	Unknown	1824–1865	28-foot North Country-class (P&S)	[27]
–	–	Robert Whitworth	1865–1866	33-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[28]
–	–	Robert Whitworth (II)	1866–1871	32-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[28]
–	–	John Abbott	1871–1885	34-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[29]
9	–	William John & Francis [lower-alpha 3]	1885–1898	34-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S)
10	–	George and Jane Walker	1898–1899	35-foot Self-righting (P&S)	This lifeboat was specially designed for Barmston. [30] It spent 14 years at Barmston before being moved to Bridlington in 1898. [31]
433	–	George and Jane Walker (II)	1899–1931	35-foot Self-righting (P&S)
747	–	Stanhope Smart	1931–1947	35ft 6in Self-righting motor	[32]
851	–	Tillie Morrison, Sheffield	1947–1953	35ft 6in Self-righting motor	[33] [34]
914	–	Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II	1953–1967	Liverpool
980	–	William Henry and Mary King	1967–1988	Oakley	[35]
1124	12-001	Peggy and Alex Caird	1988–1995	Mersey
1169	12-12	Marine Engineer	1995–2017	Mersey
1329	13-22	Anthony Patrick Jones	2017–	Shannon	[36]

Inshore Lifeboats

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2]	Name	In service [37]	Class	Comments
D-92	Unnamed	1966–1970	D-class (RFD PB16)	[31]
D-188	The Lord Feoffees	1971–1983	D-class (RFD PB16)	[31]
D-299	The Lord Feoffees	1984–1991	D-class (RFD PB16)	[31]
D-426	Lords Feoffees II	1992–2000	D-class (EA16)	[38]
D-557	Lords Feoffees III	2000–2009	D-class (EA16)
D-721	Windsor Spirit	2009–2021	D-class (IB1)	[39]
D-852	Ernie Wellings	2021–	D-class (IB1)	[40]

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.
3. Spellings vary between Frances and Francis.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

References

1. "Plans for a new lifeboat station". York Press. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
2. "Coastal rescue". BBC News. 15 September 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
3. "Bridlington's lifeboats". rnli.org. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
4. Chrystal 2012, p. 69.
5. Jones 2013, p. 72.
6. "The fateful day as a Great Gale killed 150 mariners". The Yorkshire Post. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
7. Jones 2013, p. 3.
8. "Genuki: BRIDLINGTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892., Yorkshire (East Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
9. "BARMSTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892". genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
10. "The history of Barmston". Bridlington Free Press. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
11. "North division: Barmston". British History Online. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
12. "Plans for Bridlington new lifeboat station get go ahead". ITV News. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
13. Leach 2018, p. 36.
14. Kennedy, Poppy (26 September 2017). "New Bridlington lifeboat station is now complete". Bridlington Free Press. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
15. Davidson, Trudi (7 November 2017). "Huge crowds expected to greet Bridlington's new £2.2m new lifeboat". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
16. "Bridlington station history". RNLI. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
17. Jones 2013, p. 76.
18. Stanway, Kate (1909). Britannia's Calendar of Heroes. London: G Allen & Sons. p. 94. OCLC   5957418.
19. "Bridlington Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
20. "Lifeboat disaster recalled on its 60th anniversary". The Yorkshire Post. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
21. Campbell, James (August 2021). "The bravery and tragedy in the waves honoured by plaque at coastal beauty spot". Hull Daily Mail.
22. "Bridlington's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
23. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0 907605 89 3.
24. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
25. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
26. "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
27. Walkington 2005, p. 141.
28. Jones 2013, p. 4.
29. Jones 2013, p. 75.
30. Ellis, Linda (2014). A snapshot of Bridlington in the 1920s. Bridlington: Lodge Books. p. 44. ISBN   978-1-326-02004-0.
31. Walkington 2005, p. 142.
32. Leach 2018, p. 38.
33. "Llandudno: Historic lifeboat will return to former glory". North Wales Post. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
34. "Name Tillie Morrison". National Historic Ships. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
35. Leach 2018, p. 2.
36. Leach, Nicholas (1 December 2017). "New Shannon for Yorkshire arrives in style… and hail". Fishing News. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
37. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
38. Floyd, Mike, ed. (Winter 1993). "What and Where? The Lifeboat Fleet of the RNLI...". The Lifeboat. 53 (526). Poole: RNLI: 131. ISSN   0024-3086.
39. "Pub raises money for new lifeboat". BBC News. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
40. "Bridlington RNLI to honour Ernie Wellings in lifeboat naming ceremony". RNLI. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

Sources

• Chrystal, Paul (2012). Lifeboat Stations of North East England; From Sunderland to The Humber, Through Time. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN   978-1-4456-1376-5.
• Jones, Richard M. (2013). The Great Gale of 1871. Cirencester: Mereo. ISBN   978-1-909544-72-7.
• Leach, Nicholas (2018). The Lifeboat Service in England; the North East Coast, Station by Station. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN   978-1-4456-6832-1.
• Walkington, Fred (2005). The Bridlington Lifeboat; the first 200 years, 1805–2005. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN   1-86077-335-4.