Bridlington Lifeboat Station Explained

Bridlington Lifeboat Station
Map Type:East Riding of Yorkshire
Location:Bridlington Lifeboat Station
Address:The Spa Promenade
Location City:Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 3JH
Location Country:England
Coordinates:54.0785°N -0.1978°W
Building Type:RNLI Lifeboat Station
Opened Date:2017
Cost:£3 million[1]
Owner: Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Bridlington Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station based in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Having been instituted in 1805, it is the oldest working RNLI lifeboat location in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.[2]

A new lifeboat station was opened closer to the sea in September 2017, replacing an older facility built in 1903. There are two lifeboats based at Bridlington; a All-weather Lifeboat (ALB), 13-22 Antony Patrick Jones (ON 1329), and a Inshore lifeboat Ernie Wellings (D-852).[3]

History

In 1804, the residents of Bridlington raised the £150 needed to pay for a lifeboat, which became operational in 1805 with the first lifeboat house recorded as being operational in 1806. In December 1852, the local committee in charge of the boat relinquished control to the RNLI after they took the decision not to launch during bad weather. This was seen as the wrong decision, as three men on a stricken ship drowned, and so the committee decided the best option was to transfer control to the RNLI.

A lifeboat station was built near to the harbour, but was vacated in 1903 in favour of a new build slightly to the south along Marine Drive.

In 1871, a huge storm hit the east coast of England and became known as the Great Gale of 1871. Many boats were wrecked, including The Harbinger, a private lifeboat which is sometimes erroneously referred to as an RNLI boat. The storm took its toll on dozens of ships, which were trying to stay safe in Bridlington Bay, which was sometimes referred to as the Bay of Safety. Between 70 and 150 people died, including six members of the lifeboat crew from The Harbinger.[4] At the time, the RNLI boat was known as the Institution Boat and The Harbinger was known as the Fishermen's Boat. After the gale, it was commented upon by some, that the design of The Harbinger led to its capsizing. A local benefactor paid for a new boat (The Seagull), of a new design and paid for a lifeboathouse to accommodate it, something that The Harbinger never had and she later became weathered after being exposed to the elements.[5]

Between 1884 and 1898, there was as secondary lifeboat in the village of Barmston some to the south of Bridlington. This was crewed by the RNLI men from Bridlington, though how long it would take them to reach the lifeboathouse at from Bridlington is unknown.[6] [7] [8]

A lifeboat station was opened in 1903 on South Marine Drive,[9] and in 1921, along with Lifeboat Station, Bridlington undertook trials in launching lifeboats across open beaches into water with the aid of a specially adapted tractor.

In 2017, the previous lifeboat station on South Marine Drive in the town, was replaced with a larger facility on the seashore which enabled the RNLI to house both their All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and their Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) in the same facility. Previous to this, the ILB was housed in a separate facility from the ALB.[10] The new build lifeboat station also allows the launch vehicle and boat to stay permanently fixed when not in use. This allows for a speedier deployment into the sea when an emergency call is made.[11]

Notable launches

Great Gale of 1871

See main article: Great Gale of 1871. The Bridlington RNLI Lifeboat was launched many times and rescued 16 people from three wrecked ships.[2] The local rescue boat, Harbinger, a gift from Count Gustave Batthyany, also took to the sea and rescued sailors, but capsized and six of her crew of nine were drowned.[12]

Seagull Lifeboat (1898)

After the sinking of The Harbinger, a private donation paid for a second lifeboat (outwith of the RNLI's responsibility) which was called The Seagull. This operated in conjunction with the RNLI lifeboat until 25 March 1898, when the RNLI were called out to rescue the crew of The Seagull. The Seagull had been dashed against the sea-wall and ropes had been thrown to aid the crew. One of the RNLI crewman who had been decorated for his bravery during the Great Gale of 1871, drowned during the rescue.[13]

March 1915

Whilst the lifeboat was being launched to go to a stricken Minesweeper in Bridlington bay, one of the carriage horse riders was knocked off his horse, swept out to sea and drowned.[14] Two of the horses and all twelve sailors aboard the minesweeper drowned too.

The Tillie Morrison, Sheffield (1952)

On 19 August 1952, two girls, Joan Ellis and Gillian Fox, were swimming in the sea off the coast at Flamborough when they got into difficulties. The lifeboat could not be launched as its slipway was under repair, so the Bridlington lifeboat, the Tillie Morrison, Sheffield was launched instead. Unfortunately, both girls drowned and during the search, and the lifeboat was capsized by rough seas, killing one of the lifeboatmen, bowman Robert Redhead. It was later speculated that the Bridlington lifeboat crew were unfamiliar with the area they were searching, and so were not aware of the dangerous waters around Flamborough Head.[15] A plaque at Thornwick Bay commemorates the tragedy.[16]

Station Honours

The following are awards made at Bridlington[17] [18]

John Usher - 1828

George Gray - 1834

Thomas Frankish, ‘a youth’ - 1865

Henry Hutchinson, fisherman - 1890

Christopher Brown - 1893

Fred Brown - 1893

Thomas Clark - 1893

Richard Purvis - 1893

John Usher - 1893

John Edward King, Coxswain - 1973

John E King, Coxswain - 1968

John E King, Coxswain - 1972 (Second-Service clasp)

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1979

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 2000 (Second Service Clasp)

Andrew Brompton, Assistant Mechanic - 2000

John E King, Coxswain - 1967

H T Wood - 1967

Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1968

John E King, Coxswain - 1969

F Walkington, crew member - 1970

George William Traves, crew member - 1973

Denis Atkins, crew member - 1973

Roderick William Stott, crew member - 1973

Anthony John Ayre, crew member - 1973

Fred Walkington, crew member - 1973

Kenneth Bently crew member - 1973

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1980

Fred Walkington, Coxswain - 1985

Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1986

Adrian Trower, Helmsman - 2006

R Cooper - 1967

Bridlington Lifeboat Crew - 1969

Coxswain John E King and the five remaining crew members - 1970

John E King, Coxswain - 1972

K Bentley, crew member - 1972

Andrew Brompton, Helmsman - 1989

Andrew Day, Helmsman - 2000

Duncan Stewart, Helmsman - 2004

Fred Walkington, Retired Coxswain - 2001[19]

Roland Stork, Former Coxswain - 2004[20]

Richard Dunk - 2019[21]

Bridlington Lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ONOp. No.NameIn serviceClassComments
Cost defrayed by Lloyd's of London
1824–186528-foot North Country-class (P&S)
Robert Whitworth1865–186633-foot Self-righting (P&S)
Robert Whitworth (II)1866–187132-foot Self-righting (P&S)
John Abbott1871–188534-foot Self-righting (P&S)
9William John & Francis1885–189834-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S)
10George and Jane Walker1898–189935-foot Self-righting (P&S)This lifeboat was specially designed for Barmston.[22] It spent 14 years at before being moved to Bridlington in 1898.
433George and Jane Walker (II)1899–193135-foot Self-righting (P&S)
747Stanhope Smart1931–1947
851Tillie Morrison, Sheffield 1947–1953[23] [24]
914Tillie Morrison, Sheffield II1953–1967
980William Henry and Mary King1967–1988
11241988–1995
116912-12Marine Engineer1995–2017
132913-22Anthony Patrick Jones 2017–Named by Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, in April 2018
[25]

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.NameIn service[26] ClassComments
D-921966–1970
D-188The Lord Feoffees1971–1983
D-299The Lord Feoffees1984–1991
D-426Lords Feoffees II1992–2000[27]
D-557Lords Feoffees III2000–2009
D-721Windsor Spirit 2009–2021[28]
D-852Ernie Wellings2021–[29]

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.Reg. No.TypeIn serviceComments
T11BT 4414Clayton1921–1922
T5IJ 3424Clayton1922–1930
T16YW 3377Clayton1930–1932
T25UW 3881FWD Ltd1932–1948
T42JXR 933Case LA1948–1954
T62PLA 698Fowler Challenger III1954–1965
T58OJJ 312Fowler Challenger III1965–1974
T60OXO 323Fowler Challenger III1974–1978
T87XA 9192Talus MBC Case 1150B1978–1986
T100D466 RAWTalus MB-H Crawler1986–1998
T108F133 FUJTalus MB-H Crawler1998–2000
T101D335 SUJTalus MB-H Crawler2000–2008
T120P514 HAW
SC-T09HF65 HUASLARS (Supacat)2017–2019
SLARS (SC Innovation)2019–

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Plans for a new lifeboat station . York Press . 10 December 2014 . 13 February 2019.
  2. News: Coastal rescue . 4 February 2019 . BBC News . 15 September 2006 .
  3. Web site: Bridlington's lifeboats . rnli.org . 8 March 2019.
  4. News: The fateful day as a Great Gale killed 150 mariners . 18 February 2019 . The Yorkshire Post . 13 August 2009.
  5. Web site: Genuki: BRIDLINGTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892., Yorkshire (East Riding) . 18 February 2019 . www.genuki.org.uk.
  6. Web site: BARMSTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1892 . genuki.org.uk . 13 February 2019.
  7. News: The history of Barmston . Bridlington Free Press . 25 May 2007 . 13 February 2019.
  8. Web site: North division: Barmston . British History Online . 13 February 2019.
  9. News: Plans for Bridlington new lifeboat station get go ahead . 13 February 2019 . ITV News . 19 January 2015.
  10. News: Kennedy . Poppy . New Bridlington lifeboat station is now complete . Bridlington Free Press . 13 February 2019 . 26 September 2017.
  11. News: Davidson . Trudi . Huge crowds expected to greet Bridlington's new £2.2m new lifeboat . Hull Daily Mail . 7 November 2017 . 13 February 2019.
  12. Web site: Bridlington station history . RNLI . 13 February 2019.
  13. Book: Stanway . Kate . Britannia's Calendar of Heroes . 1909 . G Allen & Sons . London . 94. 5957418.
  14. Web site: Bridlington Station history . RNLI . 6 March 2019.
  15. News: Lifeboat disaster recalled on its 60th anniversary . The Yorkshire Post . 18 August 2012 . 18 February 2019.
  16. Web site: Campbell . James . The bravery and tragedy in the waves honoured by plaque at coastal beauty spot . Hull Daily Mail. August 2021 .
  17. Web site: Bridlington's station history . RNLI . 13 February 2024.
  18. Book: Cox . Barry . Lifeboat Gallantry . 1998 . Spink & Son Ltd . 0 907605 89 3.
  19. Web site: Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire . The Gazette . 13 February 2024.
  20. Web site: Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire . The Gazette . 13 February 2024.
  21. Web site: British Empire Medal (Civil Division) . The Gazette . 13 February 2024.
  22. Book: Ellis . Linda . A snapshot of Bridlington in the 1920s . 2014 . Lodge Books . Bridlington . 978-1-326-02004-0 . 44.
  23. News: Llandudno: Historic lifeboat will return to former glory . North Wales Post . 3 July 2014 . 18 February 2019.
  24. Web site: Name Tillie Morrison . National Historic Ships . 18 February 2019.
  25. News: Leach . Nicholas . New Shannon for Yorkshire arrives in style… and hail . Fishing News . 1 December 2017 . 13 February 2019.
  26. Book: Leonard . Richie . Denton . Tony . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. 2024 . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society . 4-132.
  27. Floyd . Mike . What and Where? The Lifeboat Fleet of the RNLI.... . The Lifeboat . Winter 1993 . 53. 526 . 131 . RNLI . Poole . 0024-3086.
  28. News: Pub raises money for new lifeboat . BBC News . 15 September 2009 . 13 February 2019.
  29. Web site: Bridlington RNLI to honour Ernie Wellings in lifeboat naming ceremony . RNLI . 5 August 2022.