Stranraer Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Stranraer Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Stranraer lifeboat station - geograph.org.uk - 3404060.jpg
Stranraer Lifeboat Station
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressForeland Place
Town or city Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, DG9 0EB
Country Scotland
Coordinates 54°54′29.4″N5°02′06.8″W / 54.908167°N 5.035222°W / 54.908167; -5.035222
Opened4 June 1974
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Stranraer RNLI Lifeboat Station

Stranraer Lifeboat Station is located at Foreland Place, Stranraer, a port town which sits at the bottom end of Loch Ryan, on the north side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway double-headed peninsula to the mainland, formerly in Wigtownshire, now in the administrative region of Dumfries and Galloway.

Contents

A D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat was first stationed at Stranraer by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on 4 June 1974. [1]

The station currently operates a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, Sheila MacDonald (D-833), on station since 2018. [2]

History

In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. [3]

More stations were opened, but it wasn't until June 1974, that a lifeboat station was established at Stranraer, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-132). The station was operational only during the summer months. The lifeboat was housed in a Marley 'M-Plan' boathouse. [1] [2]

One of the more unusual calls came on 9 September 1984, whilst the lifeboat was on Sunday exercise. The Stranraer D-class (Zodiac III) lifeboat (D-287) was called to the aid of a Volkswagen Beetle. This particular vehicle had been heavily modified, and its occupants, Steve Good and Peter Duncan were attempting to cross the Irish Sea, from Stranraer to Larne, for episode 5 'Water Beetle', of the BBC Television programme Duncan Dares. The engine failed when the vehicle had first entered the water, which had to be towed ashore by the lifeboat. Despite the (good) weather forecast, a later attempt encountered particularly rough conditions, but the car still managed to get 18 miles, before the engine failed again, and the car was towed ashore once again. Duncan reported that the crossing attempt was spotted by a submarine, which surfaced to check on what it had seen. [4] [5] [6]

By 1993, the basic boathouse provided in 1974 was nearing the end of its operational life. A new boathouse was proposed and agreed, with works starting in November 1993. Construction was completed in June 1994, the building not only housing the D-class class lifeboat and launch vehicle, but also providing a workshop and crew facilities. [1]

Stranraer lifeboat station was made operational all-year-round in 1996. [1]

In 2008, Stranraer would receive the new D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, funded by the Communications and Public Service Lifeboat Fund, more commonly known as The Lifeboat Fund, a fundraising charity supported by members of the Civil Service, Royal Mail, Post Office and British Telecommunications workers (CISPOTEL), through 'payroll and pension payroll giving'. The Fund was founded in 1866. At a ceremony on Saturday 15 November 2008, the fund's 49th lifeboat, Stranraer Saviour (Civil Service No.49) (D-697) was formally named and handed over to the RNLI. [7]

A new lifeboat arrived at Stranraer in 2018. Sheila MacDonald (D-833), was provided by the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust. The trust was set up by Roderick Stewart Macdonald in November 1978, with funds inherited from his family. His grandfather, R. J. Macdonald, had been one of the founders of the distillery company Macdonald & Muir Ltd, which eventually became Glenmorangie plc. [2] [8]

In the 200th year of the RNLI, Stranraer Lifeboat Station would also celebrated their 50th anniversary. [2] [9]

Stranraer lifeboats

Op.No. [lower-alpha 1] NameIn service [2] ClassComments
D-132Unnamed1974 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-224Unnamed1975–1982 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-287Unnamed1983–1989 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-388Crusader1989–1998 D-class (EA16)
D-538Tom Broom1998–2008 D-class (EA16)
D-697 Stranraer Saviour
(Civil Service No.49) 		2008–2018 D-class (IB1)
D-833Sheila MacDonald2018– D-class (IB1)
  1. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.

See also

Related Research Articles

<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">Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Norfolk, UK

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porthcawl Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station in Bridgend County Borough, Wales

Porthcawl Lifeboat Station is located at The Esplanade, in the town of Porthcawl, on the South Wales coast, in Bridgend, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pwllheli Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Gwynedd, Wales

Pwllheli Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Pwllheli, which sits on the Llŷn Peninsula, in the historic county of Gwynedd, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littlehampton Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in West Sussex, England

Littlehampton Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Littlehampton, in West Sussex, on the south coast of England.The station is on the harbour side on the eastern bank of the River Arun, a quarter mile from the harbour entrance and the pier. The current lifeboat house on Fisherman's Quay was built in 2002.

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

Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station is located in Trearddur, Anglesey, Wales and opened in 1967 as an inshore lifeboat station.

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

Barrow Lifeboat Station is located on Roa Island, near the town of Barrow in Furness, formerly part of Lancashire, but now in Cumbria. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Kirby Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Merseyside, England

West Kirby Lifeboat Station is located at Coronation Gardens, in the town of West Kirby, on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat Station in Essex, England

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Largs Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in North Ayrshire, Scotland

Largs Lifeboat Station is located at the junction of Greenock Road and Barfields, in the seaside town of Largs, which sits on the Firth of Clyde, in North Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland.

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

Morecambe Lifeboat Station actually comprises two stations, located on the promenade in Morecambe, a seaside town situated on the Morecambe Bay estuary, on the north Lancashire coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flint Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Flintshire, Wales

Flint Lifeboat Station is located in the shadow of Flint Castle at the end of Castle Dyke Street, in Flint, a town situated on the south bank of the River Dee estuary, on the North Wales coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conwy Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Conwy County Borough, Wales

Conwy Lifeboat Station is located in the shadow of Conwy Castle, on Lower Gate Street in Conwy, a town situated on the west bank of the River Conwy, on the North Wales coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymington Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in Hampshire, England

Lymington Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Bath Road, on the west bank of the Lymington River in Lymington, a port town on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England.

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

Craster Lifeboat Station is located at West End, in the small harbour village of Craster, situated mid-way between Seahouses and Amble, on the coast of Northumberland, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Mersea Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in Essex, England

West Mersea Lifeboat Station is located on the Coast Road in West Mersea, at the western end of Mersea Island, situated between the Blackwater and Colne river estuaries, 10 miles (16 km) south of Colchester, in the county of Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in Essex, England

Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Foundry Lane at Burnham Yacht harbour, in Burnham-on-Crouch, a town sitting on the north bank of the River Crouch, 20 miles (32 km) south east of Chelmsford, on the south side of the Dengie Peninsula, in the county of Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kippford Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Kippford Lifeboat Station is located on Roughfirth Road, Kippford, a small village on the east bank of the River Urr, which sits at the head of Rough Firth, on the Solway Firth, in Dumfries and Galloway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arran Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat station in North Ayrshire, Scotland

Arran Lifeboat Station, sometimes known as 'Arran (Lamlash) Lifeboat Station', is located at Lamlash Pier in Lamlash, a village on the Isle of Arran, which sits in the Firth of Clyde, in the administrative region of North Ayrshire.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Stranraer's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. ↑ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Horne, David (22 April 2008). "'My 1986 story adds a bit of fun'". Witney Gazette. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Stranraer" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XLIX (491): 155. Spring 1985. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "#2 What's the stupidest thing you've ever done?". The Burning Question: Peter Duncan. FestMag. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "The Lifeboat Fund Annual Report 2008" (PDF). CISPOTEL. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Who we fund". The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Mackay, Jaye (10 September 2024). "Stranraer RNLI celebrate their 50th anniversary". RNLI. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.