Southend-on-Sea Lifeboat Station

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Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Lifeboat Station at the end of Southend Pier - geograph.org.uk - 82693.jpg
Lifeboat station at the end of Southend Pier.
Essex UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationSouthend-on-Sea lifeboat station
AddressSouthend Pier,
Town or city Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1EE
Country England
Coordinates 51°31′56.6″N0°42′59.0″E / 51.532389°N 0.716389°E / 51.532389; 0.716389
Opened1879
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Southend-on-sea RNLI Lifeboat Station

The Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station is a lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea in the English county of Essex, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) since 1879. [1] [2]

Contents

Because of the large tidal range and extensive drying foreshore at Southend, the lifeboat station uses two boathouses.

The first of these is situated at the head (outer end) of the 1.34 miles (2.16 km) long Southend Pier, and houses a B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat and a smaller D-class (IB1) lifeboat, both of which are launched by davit into the deep water adjoining the pier.

The second boathouse is situated adjacent to the inshore end of the pier, and houses a second D-class IB1 lifeboat together with a H class hovercraft, both of which are launched down an adjacent slipway. [3]

Lifeboat station - geograph.org.uk - 1143751.jpg
The pier head lifeboat station from the sea (the lifeboats are stored behind the red doors, and are launched by the davits)

The pier-head lifeboat house is a modern structure, which incorporates crew accommodation and offices, an RNLI shop, and a viewing gallery from which visitors can view the lifeboats. It is topped by a sun deck to which the public have access. Lifeboat crews use an electric buggy, complete with sirens and blue flashing lights, to access this boathouse along the pier from the shore. [3]

History

The lifeboat station was first established in 1879, and was launched from davits on the pier in a similar manner to today. Between 1885 and 1891 there was a second station on the mainland, with the boat launched by horse-drawn carriage. The first motor lifeboat arrived in 1928. In 1935, a new lifeboat house and slipway was erected at the pier head. In 1940, the lifeboat Greater London (Civil Service No.3) (ON 704) was one of the 19 lifeboats which assisted in the evacuation of Dunkirk. [3]

In 1955 what would prove to be Southend's final All-weather lifeboat went on station. The newly built Greater London II (Civil Service No.30), a 46ft 9in Watson-class, entered service on 3 April. From then until 1968, the Thames Estuary was covered by three similar slipway launched 46ft 9in Watsons stationed on seaside piers at Clacton-on-Sea, Margate and Southend-on-Sea. Clacton's Watson was replaced by a 37ft Oakley-class lifeboat in 1968. [3]

In 1969, the RNLI placed two extra lifeboats on the Thames Estuary, following a decision by the RAF to withdraw the rescue helicopters from RAF Manston. An extra D-class lifeboat went to Southend-on-Sea, and it was decided to place an All-weather lifeboat at Sheerness on evaluation. [4]

Southend-on-Sea 'Dry End' Station Lifeboat Station, Southend-on-Sea (geograph 7271097).jpg
Southend-on-Sea 'Dry End' Station
Southend hovercraft Vera Ravine (H-004) RNLI Hovercraft en route to Southend - geograph.org.uk - 2052725.jpg
Southend hovercraft Vera Ravine (H-004)

By the early 1970s, two inflatable inshore lifeboats were in use at Southend to provide assistance to the increasing number of pleasure craft. In 1974, Sheerness was allocated a fast Waveney-class boat and two years later Southend's All-weather Watson-class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by the Inshore Atlantic 21-class Percy Garon (B-527). This was initially kept in the 1935 pier head boathouse, but in 1986 the coaster Kings Abbey sliced through the pier and lifeboat slipway, badly damaging the lifeboat house. A temporary station was quickly re-established at the pierhead, and officially opened by HRH Princess Anne in 1991. This temporary station was used until 2002, when today's modern boathouse was opened. [3]

A new 'Dry End' shore boathouse was completed on 16 July 2013, to accommodate the hovercraft, Vera Ravine (H-004), and second Inshore D-class lifeboat. [5]

Two Southend lifeboats have been named in recognition of Percy Garon MC GM (1890-1987), who was Honorary Secretary of Southend-On-Sea Lifeboat Station from 1952-1975. [6] [7]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Southend-on-Sea [8]

Mr George Culmer, Chief Officer of Coastguard - 1826
Lieut Sidney King, RN - 1838
William Bradley, Light Keeper at Southend Pierhead - 1887
Sidney Page, Coxswain - 1941
Sidney Page, Coxswain - 1938
Sidney Page, Coxswain - 1938 (Second Service Award)
Frank Jurgenson, crew member - 1941
William Deer, crew member - 1941
Herbert Myall, crew member - 1941
Samuel Thomas, crew member - 1941
Reginald Sanders, crew member - 1941
Robert T Fossett, Helmsman - 1982
John Foster, Helmsman - 2000
John Foster, Helmsman - 2000
Michael Whistler, crew member - 2000
Ian Rees, crew member - 2000
Sidney Page, Coxswain - 1947
Joseph Polkinghorn, Second Coxswain - 1947
Lionel Neville, Reserve Mechanic - 1947
Reginald Sanders, Assistant Mechanic - 1947
Samuel Thomas, Signalman - 1947
Edward Polkinghorn, crew member - 1947
Oliver Cotgrove, crew member - 1947
Thomas Thornton, crew member - 1947
Stanley Scrase, crew member - 1947
Cyril Day, crew member - 1947
Walter Wynn, crew member - 1947
Sidney Page, Coxswain - 1955
Coxswain P Gilson and his Crew - 1962
Robert Chalk - 1968
Gordon Easton - 1968
D Morgan - 1968
Robert T Fossett, Helmsman - 1977
Carl Palmby - 1981
Paul Gilson, Helmsman - 1990
Paul Gilson, Helmsman - 1992
Michael Whistler, crew member - 2000
Ian Rees, crew member - 2000
Duncan Clark, Helmsman - 1971
Clifton Warry, crew member - 1971
Harry Pavitt, crew member - 1971
Dennis Webb, Helmsman - 1971
Stephen Cox, crew member - 1971
Robert Chalk, Motor Mechanic - 1974
Paul Gilson, Helmsman - 1981
Glyn Gilson, crew member - 1981
Paul Manners, crew member - 1981
Simon Spratt, crew member - 1982
Mark Fossett, crew member - 1982
Robert Fossett, Helmsman - 1990
Mark Fossett, crew member - 1990
Roy Kidwell, crew member - 1990
John Foster, crew member - 1990
Clifton Warry, crew member - 1990
Clifton Warry, crew member - 1992
Duncan Clark, crew member - 1992
Southend Lifeboat Station - 1999
John Foster, Helmsman - 2001
Stewart Olley, Helmsman (B776) - 2002
Michael Whistler, Helmsman (D527) - 2002
Robert Chalk, Motor Mechanic - 1974
Paul Gilson, Helmsman - 1984
Michael Whistler, crew member -1984
John Foster, Helmsman - 2000
Michael Whistler, crew member - 2000
Ian Rees, crew member - 2000
Colin Adrian Reginald Sedgwick, Lifeboat Operations Manager - 2013 [9]
Michael James Whistler - 2021 [10]
James Mackie, J.P., Chair, Lifeboat Management Group - 2022 [11]

Southend-on-Sea lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [a] NameIn service [12] ClassComments
Pre-646Boys of England and Edwin J. Brett1879-188924ft Self-righting (P&S)
33Theodore & Herbert
(Southend No.2)		1885-189934ft Self-righting (P&S)
259Boys of England and Edwin J. Brett
(Southend No.1)		1889-189125ft Self-righting (P&S)Previously William James Holt at Weston-super-Mare
430 James Stevens No.9 1899-1923 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
505Reserve No.7C1923−1924 Watson (P&S) Previously William Roberts at Littlehaven
535Reserve No.7E1924−1928 Watson (P&S) Previously Charlie Medland at The Mumbles
704 Greater London
(Civil Service No.3) 		1928−1941 Ramsgate
694J.B.Proudfoot1941−1945 45ft Watson Previously H.F. Bailey at Cromer
704 Greater London
(Civil Service No.3) 		1945−1955 Ramsgate
921 Greater London II
(Civil Service No.30) 		1955−1976 46ft 9in Watson
All weather lifeboat withdrawn from station in 1976
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

D-class lifeboats

Op. No. [b] NameIn service [13] ClassComments
D-21Unnamed1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-60Unnamed1965−1966 D-class (Dunlop)
D-61Unnamed1966 D-class (Dunlop)
D-35Unnamed1966 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-63Unnamed1967 D-class (Dunlop)
D-62Unnamed1967−1969 D-class (Dunlop)
D-128Unnamed1969−1970 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-158Unnamed1969−1975 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-28Unnamed1970−1972 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-146Unnamed1970−1975 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-150Unnamed1975−1976 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-236Unnamed1975−1987 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-225Unnamed1987 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-349Unnamed1987−1995 D-class (EA16)
D-341Unnamed1988 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-368Douglas Cameron1988−1997 D-class (EA16)
D-341Unnamed1989 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-487Foresters London Pride1995−2005 D-class (EA16)
D-527Ethel Royal1997−2007 D-class (EA16)
D-633Pride of London Foresters2005−2014 D-class (IB1)
D-682The Essex Freemason2007−2017 D-class (IB1)
D-771William Henderson2014− D-class (IB1)
D-818Len Thorne GM DFC2018− D-class (IB1)

B-Class lifeboats

Op. No. [b] NameIn service [13] ClassComments
B-527 Percy Garon
(Civil Service) 		1976−1986 Atlantic 21 [6] [7]
B-567Percy Garon II1986−2001 Atlantic 21
B-776Vic and Billie Whiffen2001−2015 Atlantic 75
B-755London's Anniversary 1752015−2016 Atlantic 75
B-885Julia & Angus Wright2016− Atlantic 85

Hovercraft

Op. No. [b] NameIn service [13] ClassComments
H-004Vera Ravine2004− Hovercraft [14]
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 3 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Southend Lifeboat Station". www.rnli.org.uk. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "RNLI - Lifeboat Station - Southend-on-Sea". www.rnli.org.uk. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Southend Lifeboat - About Us - Our Station". www.southendlifeboat.org. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Morris, Jeff (September 1996). The History of the Sheerness Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
  5. ↑ "Southend Lifeboat - About Us - Our History". www.southendlifeboat.org. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Percy Garon MC GM". RNLI. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Southend Timeline 1978". Southend Timeline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Southend-on-Sea's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
  13. 1 2 3 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  14. ↑ "Southend-on-Sea RNLI mark the 20th anniversary of the hovercraft". RNLI. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
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