Yarmouth Lifeboat Station

Yarmouth Lifeboat Station
Yarmouth Lifeboat Station
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	The Boatshed
Address	Quay Street
Town or city	Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0PQ
Country	England
Coordinates	50°42′22.1″N1°30′01.7″W / 50.706139°N 1.500472°W / 50.706139; -1.500472
Opened	1924
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Technical details
Material	Masonry, Brick, Concrete
Website
Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station

Yarmouth Lifeboat station (not to be confused with Great Yarmouth and Gorleston) is located at Yarmouth, a harbour town overlooking the Solent, on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight. ^[1]

A lifeboat managed by a local committee was stationed at Yarmouth for two years from 1868, before being relocated in 1870, to a new station established at Totland Bay. In 1924, for the arrival of a motor-powered lifeboat, the Totland Bay station, now managed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), was closed, and a new station established at Yarmouth. ^[2]

17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) (ON 1249)

The station currently operates the 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) (ON 1249), a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2001. ^[3]

History

Part of the former lifeboat house, Totland Bay.

Inspired by other Sunday School groups raising funds to provide a lifeboat, the Isle of Wight Sunday Schools also set about fundraising, ultimately raising £162 by June 1868. A 29-foot Lamb and White lifeboat was ordered, and launched at Prince's Green, West Cowes on 29 June 1868. Named Dove, the lifeboat was initially placed at Yarmouth, but later moved to Totland Bay in 1870. The boat was transferred once again in 1885, to Shanklin, when the RNLI took over management of the Totland Bay station. ^{[4] [5]}

For more information, please see

• Totland Bay Lifeboat Station

In 1924, in view of difficulties encountered trying to operate a motor lifeboat from Totland Bay, a new station was established at Yarmouth, and Totland Lifeboat Station was closed. ^{[2] [6]}

Motor lifeboat

RNLB B.A.S.P. (ON 687), part of the Historic Lifeboat Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

The first motor lifeboat at the new Yarmouth location was the 45-foot Watson-class B.A.S.P. (ON 687). The lifeboat, built by J. Samuel White, was also equipped with sails in case of engine failure. His Royal Highness Edward Prince of Wales named the lifeboat B.A.S.P., after the donors, Blackburn, Armstrong, Smart and Price. During her ten years of service at the station, B.A.S.P. undertook 42 operations which saved 30 lives. After service at several other stations and later in the relief fleet, she was sold out of service in 1955. B.A.S.P. is now on display at as part of the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection, at the Chatham maritime museum. B.A.S.P. is recorded in the National Historic Ships register, Certificate No: 1687. ^[7]

Inshore lifeboat

A D-class Inshore lifeboat was placed at the station in July 1964, but was permanently withdrawn in October 1978. ^[3]

Improvements

In 1988, the Institution made improvements to the onshore facilities for the station. They provided a kitchen, toilets and washrooms within the existing boatstore. In 1994 the RNLI purchased the Yarmouth Customs House on the quayside in Quay Street, and began alterations to the building. This work included creating crew changing rooms, workshop, toilet and showers, and an RNLI souvenir and retail outlet on the ground floor. An office, training room, and crew facilities were built on the first floor. In 2000, work was carried out in the harbour to improve the lifeboat berth. ^{[3] [8]}

Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)

Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) (ON 1249) has a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h) and a range of 250  nmi (460 km). She is operated by a crew of six and is fitted with the latest in navigation, location and communication equipment including electronic chart plotter, VHF radio with direction finder, radar and global positioning systems (GPS). The lifeboat has a displacement of 41 t (40 long tons) and carries a daughter Y-class which is launched and recovered by crane. Having the Y-class enables the crew to make rescues close to shore. ^[9]

Notable rescues

Al Kwather 1

At 13:16 on 28 October 1989, the Arun-class Margaret Russell Fraser (ON-1108) relief lifeboat slipped her moorings at Yarmouth, with Coxswain David Kennett at the helm. The weather in the Solent was poor, with a south westerly severe gale force 9 blowing. The vessel was the 495 tonne roll-on/roll-off car ferry Al Kwather 1, and was reported to be in difficulties, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of Peveril Point near Swanage. Some of the cargo of cars had broken loose on the deck, and the ship was unable to weigh anchor and head for shelter, because of the danger to the crew from the loose cars on deck, and the motion of the vessel. ^{[10] [11]}

The Rother-class relief lifeboat 37-34 Horace Clarkson (ON 1047) from Swanage, had launched at 10:56, and been on scene since 11:30. In hurricane-force winds, the lifeboat was standing by the vessel. At 15:10, the Margaret Russell Fraser arrived on the scene, and took up a position astern of the Al Kwather 1, allowing the Swanage lifeboat to return home for a well-earned break. After a further hour, and with the Al Kwather 1 in no immediate danger, the Yarmouth lifeboat also made for Swanage, to allow the crew to get some rest, and to make repairs to a fractured bolt on the wheelhouse door, and replace buckled windscreen wipers. ^[11]

At 00:20, the captain of the Al Kwather 1 reported that his vessel had problems with its engines and requested help. With a helicopter also on its way, both lifeboats left Swanage, with the Margaret Russell Fraser arriving back on scene first. The ship was in complete darkness, listing to port and rolling violently, broadside to the seas. The lifeboat used her searchlights on approaching the ship from the stern, and with great skill, and in a great deal of danger, manoeuvred alongside the ship, where the crew had rigged a cargo net. The first man was quickly down the net, and aboard the lifeboat, but the second man caught his foot in the net, and was left dangling dangerously below the deck of the lifeboat. Coxswain Kennett immediately pulled the lifeboat astern and crew members Lester and Miskin hauled the man on board, with total disregard for their own safety. It was decided that the remaining crew should await the arrival of the helicopter. With all rescued by 02:12, both lifeboats headed for home. ^[11]

For this service, Coxswain David George Kennett was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, with the crew receiving "Medal Service Certificates". Assistant Mechanic Brian Miskin and crewman Joseph Lester were each presented with a "Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution". ^[12]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Yarmouth ^{[3] [13]}

• RNIPLS Gold Medal

Lt. Henry Alfred Sydney Symmes, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1839

• RNLI Silver Medal

David George Kennett, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976

• RNLI Bronze Medal

Walter Oliver Cotton, Coxswain – 1939

David George Kennett, Coxswain – 1990

• Medal Service Certificate

David Lemonius, Second Coxswain – 1990

Brian Miskin, Assistant Mechanic – 1990

Alan Howard, crew member – 1990

Stuart Pimm, crew member – 1990

Joseph Harwood, crew member – 1990

Joseph Lister, crew member – 1990

• The Maud Smith Award 1975
  (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)

David George Kennett, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976

• Awarded the Gold Pendant

to each of four boys – 1920

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

The Lifeboat Crew – 1976

John C Cook, Acting Coxswain – 1976

• A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

Dr Harrison Broadbent – 1966

Christopher Cook, inshore lifeboat crew – 1966

John Cook, inshore lifeboat crew – 1966

Stuart Pimm, crew member – 1978

Richard Downes, crew member – 1978

Brian Miskin, Assistant Mechanic – 1990

Joseph Lester, crew member – 1990

• Letters of Appreciation signed by the Director of the Institution

David Kennett, Coxswain/Mechanic and the other members of the crew – 1978

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Captain Arnold Graham Cole RNR, Honorary Secretary – 1953 ^[14]

David George Kennett, Coxswain – 1995 ^[15]

Yarmouth lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [a]	Op. No. [b]	Name	Built	At Yarmouth [2]	Class	Comments
687	–	B.A.S.P.	1924	1924–1934	45-foot Watson	On display at the RNLI Collection, Chatham Historic Dockyard
684	–	Hearts of Oak	1923	1934–1936	45-foot Watson
787	–	S.G.E.	1936	1936–1937	46-foot Watson	Destroyed by fire at Groves & Guttridge, 18 June 1937.
804	–	S.G.E.	1938	1938–1943	46-foot Watson	Replacement for ON 787
704	–	Greater London (Civil Service No.3)	1928	1943–1945	Ramsgate
804	–	S.G.E.	1938	1945–1963	46-foot Watson
968	48-01	The Earl and Countess Howe	1963	1963–1977	Oakley	[16]
1053	52-08	Joy and John Wade	1977	1977–2001	Arun
1249	17-25	Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	2000	2001–	Severn	[17] Named for Eric and Susan Hiscock.

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [b]	Name	At Yarmouth [2]	Class	Comments
D-20	Unnamed	1964	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-22	Unnamed	1965	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-37	Unnamed	1966	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-22	Unnamed	1966–1967	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-133	Unnamed	1967–1968	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-172	Unnamed	1968–1969	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-161	Unnamed	1969–1975	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-248	Unnamed	1976–1978	D-class (Zodiac III)

Inshore lifeboat withdrawn from Yarmouth in 1978.

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

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

References

1. OS Explorer Map OL29 – Isle of Wight, Folded Map. Publisher:Ordnance Survey; B2 edition (17 Mar 2008). ISBN   9780319240151
2. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
3. "Yarmouth's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
4. "Dove". Isle of Wight Observer. 11 April 1868.
5. "Dove". Hampshire Independent. 1 July 1868.
6. "Inaugural Ceremonies of Motor Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XXVI (288): 311. November 1926. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
7. "RNLB B.A.S.P." Details of the lifeboat on the historic Ship Register. The National Historic ships Register – The official voice of historic ships in the UK. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
8. For Those in Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 2, South Coast of England – Eastbourne to Weston-super-Mare, Page 79, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. ISBN   1857941292
9. "Severn class lifeboat". Our lifeboats and lifeboat stations. RNLI. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
10. "Al Kwather 1 – IMO 6903400". Photograph and details of Al Kwather 1. Ship Spotting.com 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
11. "Al Kwather I". The Lifeboat. 51 (511): 231. Spring 1990. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
12. Lifeboat Gallantry – RNLI Medals and how they were won. Author: Cox, Barry. Publisher:Spink & son Ltd and the RNLI, 1998. Work: KENNETT David George, Coxswain, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Lifeboat: Page 390/391. ISBN   0907605893
13. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
14. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
15. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
16. "Four Life-Boats Are Named. Countess Howe at Yarmouth". Lifeboat Magazine. 38 (410). December 1964. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
17. "Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) at Yarmouth". The Lifeboat. 58 (557). Summer 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2024.

External links

Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat Station