Dunbar Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Dunbar lifeboat station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
RNLI Dunbar.JPG
Dunbar Lifeboat Station
Scotland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Dunbar, East Lothian
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationVictoria Harbour
AddressVictoria Place
Town or city Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1HS
Country Scotland
Coordinates 56°00′18″N2°30′54″W / 56.00504°N 2.51499°W / 56.00504; -2.51499
Opened1808
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Technical details
MaterialBrick
Website
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/dunbar-lifeboat-station

Dunbar Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station located in Dunbar Harbour at Dunbar, on the south-east coast of Scotland, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The station operates a Trent-class all-weather lifeboat and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat. Dunbar is one of the earlier British ports to be served by a lifeboat, the first station being constructed in 1808.

Contents

History

Dunbar Harbour has been a fishing and trading port since at least 1574, and for a considerable period was classified as a port of refuge; it is located on the North Sea coast of south-east Scotland, venue for many thousands of shipwrecks over the centuries. In Britain, the history of lifeboats dates (two outliers excepted) to Henry Greathead's 1790 boat at South Shields on the River Tyne in England; [1] in 1824 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded to take a nationwide interest in the provision of lifeboats, but it was relatively ineffective in its earliest years. Lifeboat provision prior to about 1850 was a matter for local communities, with little institutional support.

Dunbar ranks amongst the earlier harbours to be equipped with a lifeboat, equipping itself with a boat of Henry Greathead's design and manufacture, together with a boat-carriage, boathouse and a Manby apparatus, in 1808. [2] The initiative to establish a station at Dunbar came from George Miller, a native of the town, son of a merchant and established as a bookbinder and bookseller, but having had a long fascination with seafaring. By his own account, he had as a child conceived of mortar-launched lines as a means of reaching shoreline wrecks, many years in advance of George William Manby's successful implementation of the idea, and remained fascinated by shipwreck and rescue. [3] Miller became acquainted with South Shields' lifeboat initiative, when he spent some days from 6 April 1789 undertaking work experience with a bookseller in the town. 1789 was a year in which the town was the 'epicentre of lifeboat innovation', arising out of the highly visible and protracted wrecking of a vessel, the Adventure, on the Herd Sands to the north-east of the South Shields on 14 March. The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Trinity House to hold a competition for the design of a lifeboat, which led to the adoption of Greathead's design. [1]

Miller, with others, campaigned from as early as 1793 for the establishment at Dunbar of a lifesaving operation, suggesting both a mortar and line, and a lifeboat, but their aspirations came to nothing. [4] It took until 1807, prompted by the death of a sailor on 6 September in a shoreline wreck at Thorntonlock, to the east of Dunbar, [lower-alpha 1] before Miller's ideas got traction. He floated a proposal for a lifeboat in the Edinburgh Evening Courant and quickly a committee of local worthies was formed, and as quickly, a subscription raised above £366, which by 1808 yielded lifeboat, station, carriage and minimal float for expenses. [5] David Anderson's 2002 paper on The Dunbar Lifeboat notes five occasions on which it responded to mariners in distress, but notes that there are no good records of its employment.

Lack of competent management of the affairs of the lifeboat station brought the Dunbar service to an end sometime after 1818, when damage occasioned to the Greathead boat went unrepaired, and it was found to be unavailable to assist with an 1821 wrecking. [6] From about 1830, Dunbar was served by a Rocket Brigade using Mandy apparatus. It was not until 1864 that the town petitioned to the reinvigorated RNLI for a replacement boat; by 1865 the Wallace had been supplied, and a new boathouse erected by the Victoria Harbour. [7] The current boathouse dates from 1901, and was extended and refurbished in 1996. [8]

  1. Thorntonlock: 55°57′45″N2°23′50″W / 55.96237°N 2.39728°W . The exact position of the wreck is not recorded

Sir Ronald Pechell Bt

14-09 Sir Ronald Pechell Bt (ON 1207) was a Trent class all weather lifeboat that operated at Dunbar from 1995 to 2008. During the Easter weekend of 2008 the lifeboat was damaged beyond economic repair, after her moorings snapped during severe storms and she was driven ashore. The Sir Ronald Pechell Bt, valued at £208K in 2008, cost £1.05M to build in 1995 and in her 13 years of service at Dunbar had launched 206 times and rescued 171 people. The lifeboat, 14-35 John Neville Taylor (ON 1266) from the charity's relief fleet, has been allocated to the station as a permanent replacement.

Station honours

The following are awards made to the crew of Dunbar Lifeboat Station: [9] [10]

1827 - for the rescue of the master of the sloop Brothers on 4 March 1827
Mr Randal Stap, chief officer of coastguard,
1852 - for rescuing the master and one of the crew of the schooner Susan on 9 January 1852.
James Brown, coastguard
1852 - for rescuing the skipper and his nephew of the fishing yawl William and James on 28 February 1852.
Robert Turnbull, a fisherman
1905 - for the rescue of six from the SS King Ja Ja of Swansea on 13 October 1905.
Walter Fairbairn, Coxswain
1970 - for the rescue an injured man in the water on 23 December 1970.
David Brunton
2010 - for the rescue of two people from their yacht Ouhm on 15 May 2009
Gary Fairbairn, Coxswain
1970 - for the rescue an injured man in the water on 23 December 1970.
Jonathan J A Alston
1991 - for his seamanship and leadership searching for divers on 6 October 1990
Robert Wight, Coxswain
to the remaining five crew members.
2010 - for the rescue of two people from their yacht Ouhm on 15 May 2009
Gary Fairbairn, Coxswain
1953 - for the rescue of a boy who had fallen over the cliffs.
R G Brunton, Second Coxswain
1932 - for the assistance given by the lifeboat to the S.S. Berkenan of Bremerhaven
Dunbar Lifeboat
2015 - For services to Maritime Safety
Kenneth John Headley, Fundraiser, RNLI [11]

Dunbar Lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [12] ClassComments
Dunbar Lifeboat1808–1821Henry Greathead lifeboatOriginal lifeboat [13]
220Wallace1865–189333-foot 1in Self-Righting (P&S)
345Sarah Pickard1893–190134-foot Self-Righting (P&S)
443William Arthur Millward1901–193135-foot Liverpool (P&S)
749George and Sarah Strachan1931–1959 45ft 6in Watson First motor lifeboat at station
947Margaret1959–1986 47ft Watson
971 Joseph Soar
(Civil Service No.34)
1986–1988 47ft Watson
102048-015Hugh William, Viscount Gough1988–1993 Solent
103444-013Thomas James King1993–1995 Waveney
120714-09Sir Ronald Pechell Bt1995–2008 Trent Storm-damaged beyond economic repair
120414-06 Windsor Runner
(Civil Service No.42)
2008 Trent
126614-35John Neville Taylor2008– Trent [14]

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.NameIn service [15] ClassComments
D-169Unnamed1968–1983 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-292Castle House1983–1989 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-397Banks' Staff III1989–1999 D-class (EA16)
D-544The Hastings1999–2009 D-class (EA16)
D-708Jimmy Miff2009–2019 D-class (IB1)
D-844David Lauder2019– D-class (IB1)
  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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenby Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of Wales

Tenby Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales that has been situated to the east of the town since 1852, three generations having been built; the original and updates in 1905 and 2005. The station currently houses two lifeboats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walmer Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the East coast of England in the UK

Walmer Lifeboat Station is located on The Strand on Walmer promenade, in the county of Kent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blyth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Northumberland, UK

Blyth Lifeboat Station is located at the Port and seaside town of Blyth, in the south east corner of the county of Northumberland, approx. 13 miles (21 km) north of Newcastle upon Tyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Norfolk, UK

Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in the town of Wells-next-the-Sea in the English county of Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salcombe Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of Devon in the UK

Salcombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Salcombe, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. The Salcombe Lifeboat has twice capsized, in 1916 with the loss of 13 lives, and in 1983 with no loss of life. Since 2008 the station has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teignmouth Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Teignmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Teignmouth, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1851 but the station was closed from 1940 until 1990. Since 2006 it has operated an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torbay Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhyl Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station in Denbighshire

Rhyl Lifeboat Station is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the North Wales town of Rhyl. For over 150 years, the Lifeboat Crew in Rhyl have been saving lives at sea. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1852 and the present station was opened in December 2001. The station operates a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat (ALB), and an D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station in East Sussex, England

Newhaven Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Newhaven in the English county of East Sussex in the United Kingdom. The original station was established in 1803 and taken over by the RNLI in 1854.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Davids Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

St Davids Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station. It was opened in 1869 and to date has been involved in saving over 360 lives at sea in more than 420 launches. The station operates both an all-weather (ALB) and an inshore (ILB) lifeboat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastbourne Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in East Sussex, England

Eastbourne Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the town of Eastbourne in East Sussex. Founded two years before the RNLI was established, the station has operated continuously since 1822 and its lifeboats have been responsible for saving over 700 lives. There are two active lifeboat stations in Eastbourne, an all-weather station with the Trent-class 14-02 Esme Anderson at Sovereign Harbour and the D-class (IB1) The David H (D-876) at the inshore lifeboat station a couple of miles to the west at Fisherman's Green. An older lifeboat station, west of Eastbourne Pier, is now used as an RNLI museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eyemouth Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Scotland

Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Eyemouth, in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Lifeboat Station</span> Royal National Lifeboat Institution base in England

Plymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Plymouth in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the city in the early 1800s. The station moved to its present site at Millbay Docks in 1992, a Grade II-listed three-storey tower. Since 2003 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather boat (ALB) along with an B-class Atlantic inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anstruther Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station

Anstruther Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Anstruther, Fife. The station has been in operation since 1865, although RNLI activity in the area dates back to 1832. The station houses the all-weather Mersey-class lifeboat 12-17 Kingdom of Fife and inshore D-class lifeboat Akira (D-802)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station on the Isle of Man

Douglas Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Douglas, capital of the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Scotland

Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulmer Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in Northumberland, England

Boulmer Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located at the village of Boulmer in the county of Northumberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seahouses Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Northumberland

Seahouses Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Seahouses, in the county of Northumberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitburn Lifeboat Station</span> Former lifeboat station in County Durham, England

Whitburn Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station, which was located in the village of Whitburn, in the county of Tyne and Wear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amble Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Northumberland, England

Amble Lifeboat Station is located at Radcliffe Quay, Warkworth Harbour, in the town of Amble, at the mouth of the River Coquet, in the county of Northumberland.

References

  1. 1 2 Anderson 2002, p. 92.
  2. Anderson 2002, p. 96.
  3. Anderson 2002, p. 91.
  4. Anderson 2002, p. 94.
  5. Anderson 2002, pp. 95–96.
  6. Anderson 2002, p. 106.
  7. Anderson 2002, p. 109.
  8. "Dunbar, Victoria Harbour, Lifeboat House". Canmore. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  9. "Dunbar's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  10. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0-907605-89-3.
  11. "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  12. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
  13. Leach, Nicholas (1999). For Those in Peril: The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Kettering: Silver Link. p. 204. ISBN   1-85794-129-2.
  14. "New Lifeboat for Dunbar". Yachting and Boating World. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  15. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.

Sources