History | |
---|---|
Operator | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
In service | 1939–1969 |
Homeport | Peterhead, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Official Number | ON 819 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Watson-class lifeboat |
Displacement | 20.5 tons |
Length | 46 ft (14 m) |
Beam | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
Height | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
Propulsion | Twin diesel engines |
Speed | 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h) |
RNLB Julia Park Barry of Glasgow (ON 819) is a former RNLI Watson-class lifeboat that was in active service in Peterhead, Scotland from 15 June 1939 to 14 January 1969.
The vessel's sea trials took place on the Holy Loch before making her way from the Clyde through the Forth and Clyde Canal to her new home in Peterhead. At the time, the 46’ (14m) long by 12’ 9” (3.9m) Julia Park Barry of Glasgow was one of the most modern and powerful of the many RNLI Lifeboats that had been built by Messr’s Alexander Robertson and Son’s, one of the foremost wooden boat-builders on Scotland's River Clyde. The vessel had 40 h.p. diesel engines which drove twin screws giving the Julia Park Barry a speed of 9 knots and had the capacity to travel 215 miles at full speed. The engine itself was water-tight meaning even if the engine room was flooded, it would continue to run.
The vessel was designed to hold a crew of eight but could in addition carry a further 95 persons even in the roughest of storms. This buoyancy was aided by the nine watertight compartments which also provided further strength to the vessel design. It was also installed with electric lighting and searchlight and was equipped with a line-throwing gun. [1]
During its near 30 years of service, RNLB Julia Park Barry of Glasgow saved 496 lives. [2] Notably, it facilitated the rescue of 106 lives in March 1942 over a 75-hour period, which earned Coxswain John B McLean the RNLI Gold Medal, the first to be awarded in Scotland in 104 years. [3]
The 46 feet (14 m) vessel, most recently berthed in Northern Ireland after being used as a leisure craft, was then purchased by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie OBE FRSE (General Practitioner Peterhead 1980-2017) with a view to returning it as an exhibition piece to the town. [4] After being stored by Peterhead Port Authority for a few years, it was then relocated to Admiralty Gateway, site of Peterhead Prison Museum in May 2015. [5] where it was fully restored during 2018 [6]
It became centrepiece of the Julia Park Barry Building, a museum retelling the story of the vessel, and history of lifeboats in Peterhead. [7] The museum was officially opened by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie on 28 June 2019. [8]
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.
The Penlee lifeboat disaster occurred on 19 December 1981 off the coast of Cornwall, England. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat Solomon Browne, based at the Penlee Lifeboat Station near Mousehole, went to the aid of the vessel Union Star after its engines failed in heavy seas. After the lifeboat had rescued four people, both vessels were lost with all hands. Sixteen people died, including eight volunteer lifeboatmen.
Since its inception, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has provided lifeboats to lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Padstow Lifeboat Station has been at Trevose Head west of Padstow, Cornwall, since 1967. Before that it was at Hawker's Cove on the Camel estuary between the town and the sea. The lifeboat station is run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and since 2006 has been the base for Tamar-class RNLB Spirit of Padstow.
RNLB Louisa Heartwell was the sixth lifeboat to be stationed at Cromer on the coast of the English county of Norfolk She was launched from the beach station and was on station from 1902 to 1932. During her period on station at Cromer the Louisa Heartwell had only two coxswains during her 29-year career. They were Matthew James Buttons Harrison until his retirement in 1909, and then Henry George Blogg.
Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Beach Road, about 1 mi (1.6 km) north of the town of Wells-next-the-Sea, on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk.
RNLB Jesse Lumb is a historic lifeboat. Built by J. Samuel White in 1939, Jesse Lumb served as the lifeboat at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight from 1939 to 1970, becoming the last of her type in service. Since 2000 she has been preserved at Classic Boat Museum, Cowes. In August 1999 she was inscribed on the National Register of Historic Vessels, becoming part of the National Historic Fleet.
RNLB Duncan was the first RNLI lifeboat placed on station in the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk, United Kingdom. The arrival of this lifeboat also coincided with the construction of the first RNLI lifeboat station. The station and boat worked in conjunction with the already established private Fishermans lifeboat station also in the town.
RNLB Helen Smitton is a Watson-class lifeboat built by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company in 1910. Helen Smitton served as the lifeboat at St Abbs, Berwickshire, Scotland from 1911 to 1936 and was the village's first lifeboat.
RNLB Lucy Lavers was an RNLI lifeboat which was on No. 2 station at Aldeburgh from 1940 until 1959 when she was placed in the reserve fleet until 1968 when she was retired. The Rescue Wooden Boats Charity is currently undertaking restoration of the vessel. The Lucy Lavers is entered in the National Historic Ships register and has the Certificate No 2206.
RNLB Abdy Beauclerk was a 41ft 'Aldeburgh' Type Beach Motor which was stationed in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk. She was on the No: 1 station at Aldeburgh from 1931 until she was sold out of the RNLI fleet in 1959, a total of 28 years service.
RNLB Emma Constance was a Barnett-class lifeboat stationed at Aberdeen Lifeboat Station, in the Scottish city of Aberdeen from 1927 until August 1951. The lifeboat was designed by James R. Barnett who was a consulting naval architect to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Hunstanton Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Old Hunstanton, in the English county of Norfolk. It is the only lifeboat station on the east coast of England which faces westward, being positioned on the east side of the square-mouthed bay and estuary known as The Wash.
Selsey Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Selsey, West Sussex on the south coast of England.
Bembridge Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The station is located on the eastern approaches to The Solent, south of the area known as Spithead. The station is on one of the busiest shipping lanes in United Kingdom waters. The main boathouse stands away from the shore on a piled platform with slipway, and is linked to the shore by a pier gangway.
Yarmouth Lifeboat station is an RNLI station located in the town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. The station has been based in Yarmouth's harbour since 1924. Previously the station had been in Totland Bay, west of Yarmouth, until it was decided that the station need a motor lifeboat. The current Severn-class lifeboat is moored afloat and shore facilities are on the quayside in Yarmouth. The station covers the western Solent with its all-weather lifeboat 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) (ON-1249) which has been on service at Yarmouth since 2001.
RNLB Margaret Russell Fraser was an Arun-class lifeboat which served in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution(RNLI) Relief Fleet for 16 years before being placed on station at the Calshot Lifeboat Station in Calshot, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
Sir Lewis Duthie Ritchie is a Scottish medical doctor who worked as a general practitioner (GP) and medical researcher. He is the James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice at the University of Aberdeen and holds honorary professorships at the University of Edinburgh and the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Peterhead Lifeboat Station is located at West Pier, in the harbour town of Peterhead, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
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