Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station

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Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station
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Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 2692380.jpg
Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station (2006).
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Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
General information
TypeLifeboat Station
AddressHastings Avenue,
Town or city Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 1BW
Country England
Coordinates 51°46′53.3″N1°08′28.6″E / 51.781472°N 1.141278°E / 51.781472; 1.141278
Opened1878
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Clacton-on-Sea RNLI lifeboat station

Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is located on Hastings Avenue, in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea, on the Tendring peninsular, in the county of Essex.

Contents

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1878. [1]

The station currently operates two Inshore lifeboats, a B-class (Atlantic 85), David Porter MPS (B-863), on station since 2012, and a D-class (IB1), Damar's Pride (D-849), on station since 2020. [2]

History

In 1870, the hamlet of Clacton Beach had a population of just 12. Just 10 years later, following rapid development to create a Victorian seaside resort, the population was over 1300. It was during this time of expansion that the Commander of HM Coastguard at Harwich wrote to the RNLI in 1877, to suggest a lifeboat be placed at Clacton-on-Sea, which was duly agreed. [3]

A boathouse was soon commissioned, and constructed on the corner of Carnarvon Road and Church Road. The RNLI would later erect a fence around the building "to keep out stray cattle". [3]

A 34-foot self-righting lifeboat was built by Woolfe boatbuilders. Costing £363, and funded by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, the boat arrived in Clacton on 13 March 1878. Robert Legerton was appointed Coxswain, with Mr. Frederick Nunn appointed Honorary Secretary. In a parade including Freemasons, Mayors and Councillors in July 1878, the lifeboat was pulled to the new lifeboat house, where after the service of dedication by the Grand Chaplain of the Freemasons, the boat was named Albert Edward, the first of three Clacton lifeboats to carry this name. [3]

After only 4 years, it was decided that a bigger boat was required at Clacton. The boathouse was extended, and to make launching easier, two slipways were constructed, one on each side of Clacton Pier. The new lifeboat was 39-foot long, and built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London. Costing £635, she was again funded by the Freemasons of England, and also named Albert Edward (ON 32). The boat was kept in the boathouse in the summer, and on the pier during the winter months, launching down either slipway according to conditions. [3]

A new lifeboat arrived in Clacton in 1929, a twin engine 45ft 6in Watson-class named Edward Z Dresden (ON 707). She would serve Clacton until 1952. During this time, she would see service as one of the Little Ships of Dunkirk, and unusually, was crewed by her regular lifeboat crew for the trip. Damaged by gunfire, she was sent for repair after the Dunkirk evacuation, returning to be stationed at Brightlingsea, due to the demolition of the centre of Clacton Pier for wartime invasion preparations. [1]

Clacton received D-107, the first of their small high speed D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore Lifeboats (ILBs) in 1966. The station then received a second ILB, a larger twin engine B-class (Atlantic 21) in 1984, when it was announced that the All-weather lifeboat was being withdrawn, following difficulties encountered launching due to silt. [2]

Clacton Lifeboat House on the Pier RNLI Station Clacton-on-Sea.jpg
Clacton Lifeboat House on the Pier

The old lifeboat house on Clacton Pier was vacated in 2006, and a new boathouse was constructed at Hastings Avenue, just under 1 mi (1.6 km) to the west of the pier. This provided up-to-date crew facilities and storage, along with housing for both Inshore lifeboats and launch tractors. [1]

In October 2022, it was announced that the Atlantic 85 lifeboat would be withdrawn, and Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat station would once again receive an All-weather lifeboat, a new 25 knot Shannon-class lifeboat. The new boat is due on service in 2024. [4]

Notable rescues

On the 23 October 1881, the Albert Edward was called to the aid of the French vessel Madeline. Having been towed to the scene by the Steamer Consett, the lifeboat set anchor, and attempted to veer down to the Madeline, with no success. When the cable was cut, the lifeboat was swept onto the deck of the casualty boat, damaging the rudder. The lifeboat finally dropped alongside the vessel, and each of the 16 crew were rescued one by one. [3] Coxswain Robert Legerton was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. Legerton and Second Coxswain James Cross were also to receive Gold Medals, and the remaining 11 crew receiving Silver Medals, awarded by The French Government. [1]

On the 24th April 1914, the lifeboat Albert Edward (ON 463) was called out to the aid of Government Seaplane No.79, which was forced to ditch in the sea after engine trouble. The seaplane, subsequently towed to Harwich, was carrying the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill. [3]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Clacton-on-Sea. [1] [5]

Robert Legerton, Coxswain - 1881
James Cross, Second Coxswain - 1881
William Wall Weekes, Master of the Fortitude - 1828
Robert Cleave, Master of the New Union - 1830
John Glover, Master of the Atalanta - 1843
Stephen Hurry, Master of the New Gypsy - 1843
John Powell, Master of the Lord Howe - 1843
Cpt. William Lewis of Tyrall - 1855
Cpt. John Lewis of Aurora’s Increase - 1855
Samuel James Robert Legerton, Coxswain - 1881
Samuel James Robert Legerton, Coxswain - 1884 (Second-Service Clasp)
Samuel James Robert Legerton, Coxswain - 1891 (Third-Service Clasp)
William Schofield, Coxswain - 1893
Maurice Nicholls, crew member - 1894
Robert Osborne, crew member - 1894
John Grier, crew member - 1894
Maurice Nicholls, crew member - 1899 (Second-Service Clasp)
Robert Osborne, crew member - 1899 (Second-Service Clasp)
George Grigson Snr, crew member - 1899
George James Grigson, Coxswain - 1914
George James Grigson, Coxswain - 1915 (Second-Service Clasp)
Jesse Lord Salmon, Second Coxswain - 1915
George James Grigson, Coxswain - 1918 (Third-Service Clasp)
Charles Raymond Ellis, Coxswain - 1940
Each of the remaining 11 members of Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat crew - 1881
William Schofield, Coxswain - 1894
Jesse Lord Salmon, Second Coxswain - 1918
David Howard Wells, Helmsman - 1992
Frank Castle, Second Coxswain- 1940
Walter Harding, Motor Mechanic - 1940
George Ellis, Coxswain - 1967
Charles Bolingbroke, Coxswain - 1970
Charles Bolingbroke, Coxswain - 1971
Charles Bolingbroke, Coxswain - 1974
Terry M Bolingbroke, crew member - 1992
Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Crew - 1970.
Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Crew - 1974
David Howard Wells, Helmsman - 1992
Terry Bolingbroke, crew member - 1992
Thomas Ridley, crew member - 1992
David Howard Wells, Helmsman - 1992
Terry Bolingbroke, crew member - 1992
Thomas Ridley, crew member - 1992
Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Crew to the remainder of the crew - 1971
Thomas Ridley, crew member - 1992

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Clacton-on-Sea lifeboat. [3]

James Cross, Second Coxswain
Thomas Cattermole
Ben Addis

Clacton-on-Sea lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameAt Clacton [6] ClassComments [2] [3]
Pre-632Albert Edward1878−188434-foot Self-righting (P&S)34 ft (10 m) 10-oared lifeboat built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £363.
38Heyland1884−188537-foot Self-righting (P&S)37 ft (11 m) 12-oared lifeboat built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £430 when new. First stationed at Palling in 1882. In 1885 it was transferred to Southsea, and served there until sold in 1908.
32Albert Edward1885−190139-foot 3in Self-righting (P&S)39 ft 3 in (11.96 m) 10-oared lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, costing £635.
463Albert Edward1901−1929 45ft Watson 45 ft (14 m) non-self-righting lifeboat built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1890. Stationed at Arranmore until 1932 when it was sold. Last reported at Ipswich in 2023, used as a yacht.
707Edward Z Dresden1929−1952 45ft 6in Watson The first motor lifeboat at Clacton-on-Sea. Later stationed at Stronsay. Sold in 1968 and became the yachy St Peter but sunk at Troon in 1984. [7]
887Sir Godfrey Baring1952−1968 46ft 9in Watson Named after Godfrey Baring, former chairman of the RNLI committee of management. Later stationed at Wick and Workington. Sold in 1986 and modified for use as a trip boat; last reported to be Friedeburg, Germany, in 2012.
98537-18Valentine Wyndham-Quin1968−1984 Oakley Motor lifeboat withdrawn from Clacton-on-Sea in 1984 so it was transferred to Clogherhead. It is now preserved at Harwich Lifeboat Museum.
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

D-Class

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameAt ClactonTypeComments
D-107Unnamed1966−1978 RFD PB16
D-262Clacton Round Table 34841978−1984 Zodiac III
D-302Unnamed1983−1992 RFD PB16
D-431Veronica1992−2000 EA16
D-559Seahorse II2000−2009 EA16
D-723Damarkand IV2009−2018 IB1
D-774Arthur Hamilton2018−2020 IB1 Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat from 2014.
D-849Damar's Pride2020− IB1

B-Class

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameAt ClactonTypeComments
B-514Guide Friendship 11984−1985 Atlantic 21 First stationed at Aberdovey in 1974.
B-511Co-operative No.11985−1989 Atlantic 21 First stationed at Largs in 1973.
B-579Institute of London Underwriters1989−1997 Atlantic 21
B-526Unnamed1997−1998 Atlantic 21 Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1974.
B-744Robert George Alexander1998−2012 Atlantic 75
B-863David Porter MPS2012− Atlantic 85

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] Reg. No.TypeAt ClactonComments
TW60HcDX54 UYM Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2006–2021
TW18HbH710 RUX Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) 2021–
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Clacton-on-Sea's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 23 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 4 5 6 7 8 Morris, Jeff (February 1991). The Story of the Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–26.
  4. "Changes to Essex lifeboat fleet to ensure lifesaving service is fit for future". RNLI. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  5. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0 907605 89 3.
  6. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
  7. "Edward Z. Dresden". Orkney Image Library. Retrieved 23 March 2024.