The station currently operates a Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, 16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail (ON 1282), on station since 2006.[2]
Tamar-class lifeboat, 16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail (ON 1282) out on exercise
History
Even before some places had lifeboats, acts of gallantry at sea were rewarded by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary Bt., later to become the RNLI. Six RNIPLS Silver Medals were awarded at Peterhead before 1840.[3]
The first Peterhead lifeboat was a 33-foot self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, placed on service in 1865, and named People's Journal No.1 (ON 240). The boat had been funded from an appeal by the Dundee periodical newspaper 'The People's Journal', which had also raised enough money to fund a second boat, People's Journal No.2, placed at Arbroath. A boathouse was constructed on the eastern side of South Harbour, at the end of Castle street, next to the Coastguard Station, at a cost of £120.[2][4]
The lifeboat station was rebuilt and enlarged in 1900, but in 1908, it was decided to remove the slipway, and the lifeboat was moored afloat.[1]
In 1911, it was decided to open a No.2 station, and place an additional lifeboat at Peterhead. A site was chosen on the western side of South Harbour, off Lodge Walk / Merchants Quay. Five tenement houses were purchased at a cost of £445 in order to acquire the site. A boathouse with slipway was estimated to cost £2000, which was completed in 1912. The 43-foot Watson-class non-self-righting motor lifeboat Alexander Tulloch (ON 622) was placed on station.[1][2][5]
On 26 December 1914, a former fishing trawler, which had been requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a minesweeper, HMS Tom Tit (H35), was wrecked on the Horseback Rock at Peterhead, during a full south-south-easterly gale. The Peterhead No.2 lifeboat Alexander Tulloch was launched to the rescue, but was capsized and wrecked. Three of the lifeboat crew were lost. The crew of the Tom Tit were rescued by the Rocket Brigade. Lifeboatman Charles Cameron died some years later of illness, aggravated by the exposure and injuries suffered in 1914.[1][6]
The Russian steamshipKiev ran aground on Rattray Head on 26 October 1916, on passage from Arkhangelsk (Archangel) to Leith with 69 crew and 22 passengers. The Peterhead lifeboat John Ryburn (ON 565) arrived to the wreck, but couldn't get alongside. Seven or eight people were lost off the Kiev, but 60 people were rescued one by one, being pulled through the water by line to the lifeboat. A further 14 were found in the ships boat, and towed to shore. Another 10 people were rescued by other means. £550 was gifted to the RNLI by the Russian Volunteer Fleet, in recognition of the service to SS Kiev. James and William Cameron received the Carnegie Hero Fund award, with James also receiving the RNLI Silver Medal.[1][3][7]
In 1928, the 37-foot pulling and sailing lifeboat George Pickard (ON 400) was withdrawn, and the No.1 station was closed. The lifeboat had been on station for 31 years. By this time, there had been a motor-powered lifeboat at the No.2 station for 16 years. George Pickard (ON 400) was sold out of service, and spent many years as a yacht, until finally being broken up in 2007.[2]
Notable rescues
Between the morning of 23 January 1942, and mid-day on the 26 January 1942, the Peterhead lifeboat Julia Park Barry of Glasgow (ON 819) was launched four times, to three steamships, the Fidra (26 crew) of Glasgow, the Runswick (44 crew), and the Saltwick (36 crew), the latter two vessels both of Whitby. All three vessels had run aground off Peterhead in blizzard conditions, with winds up to 105 miles per hour (169km/h). The lifeboat was at sea for over 9 hours, with the crew standing by for 54 hours, with little rest. Showing extraordinary determination and courage, the lifeboat rescued a total of 106 lives, over a period of 75 hours.
Six members of the crew were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal. David Falconer Wiseman, the Motor Mechanic, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. In the first such award in Scotland for 104 years, Coxswain John Buchan McLean received the RNLI Gold Medal.[3][1][8]
1980s onward
Peterhead lifeboat berth
In 1986, Peterhead received a new Tyne-class lifeboat, funded by The Robertson Trust, a philanthropic organisation, established in 1961 by the Robertson sisters – Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel (Babs), who donated their shares in the family businesses (drinks company Edrington) to the Trust for charitable purposes. At a ceremony on 21 May 1988, with the lifeboat presented on the slipway, the lifeboat was named Babs and Agnes Robertson (ON 1127), after two of the sisters.[9]
In May 1999, a new station building with improved crew facilities was constructed close to the 1912 station, at West Pier. A new berth was created for the lifeboat to remain afloat, just inside the South Harbour.[1]
In 2006, the Tyne-class lifeboat Babs & Agnes Robertson (ON 1127) was transferred to The Mumbles, and Peterhead, along with Tenby, would be one of the first two stations to receive the new 16m (52ft)Tamar-class lifeboat. The Robertson Trust once again funded the lifeboat. At a ceremony on 11 May, Shonaig Macpherson CBE, Trustee of The Robertson Trust, named the lifeboat The Misses Robertson of Kintail (ON 1282), in memory of three sisters Agnes, Babs and Elspeth.[1][2]
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.
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station is at Mumbles Pier, located at the south-western corner of Swansea Bay, near the village of Mumbles, within the city and county of Swansea, in the historic county of Glamorgan, Wales.
Angle Lifeboat Station is located near the village of Angle, on the southern side of the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
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).
Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the English county of West Sussex.
Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is located at the entrance to Victoria Dock, in the harbour city of Aberdeen, in the historic county of Aberdeenshire.
Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Eyemouth, in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.
Thurso Lifeboat Station is located at Scrabster Harbour, in the NE corner of Scotland, near the town of Thurso, Highland, in the historic county of Caithness. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1860.
Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.
Buckie Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Buckie, Moray, on the Moray Firth coast of NE Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1860.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Wick Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town and royal burgh of Wick, Highland, in the NE corner of Scotland, in the historic county of Caithness.
Tynemouth Lifeboat Station is located on the River Tyne, at Fish Quay, North Shields, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Cullercoats Lifeboat Station is located on the north side of Cullercoats Harbour, in the town of Cullercoats, North Tyneside, in the county of Tyne and Wear.
Dunmore East Lifeboat Station is located on West Wharf, at the harbour of Dunmore East, County Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland.
Arbroath Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town and former royal burgh of Arbroath, on the North Sea coast, 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Dundee, in Angus, Scotland.
Courtmacsherry Harbour Lifeboat Station is located on Sea Road, in the village of Courtmacsherry, County Cork, on the southern shore of the Argideen River estuary, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) south west of Cork, on the south coast of Ireland.
Stonehaven Lifeboat Station is located at Old Pier, in the harbour town of Stonehaven, on the North Sea coast, 14.5 miles (23.3 km) south of Aberdeen, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Newcastle Lifeboat Station is situated at South Promenade, Newcastle, a seaside town in County Down, located the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest of the Mourne Mountains, overlooking the Irish Sea, in the south east corner of Northern Ireland.
Youghal Lifeboat Station is located on The Mall, in Youghal, a town situated on the western bank of the River Blackwater estuary in County Cork, approximately 48.5 kilometres (30.1 mi) east of the city of Cork, on the south coast of Ireland.
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Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
