RNLB Harriot Dixon (ON 770) explained

Official Number: ON 770
Donor: £3,750 Legacy of Mr William Edward Dixon, Worthing, West Sussex.
Station Cromer No2 Station

RNLB Harriot Dixon (ON 770) is a retired lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, that was stationed at in Norfolk in eastern England. Launched in 1934, she served for thirty years as the No 2 lifeboat at Cromer. She was launched 55 times and was responsible for saving the lives of 20 people.[1] [2] Dixon road, in the southern part of Cromer, is named after the lifeboat.

History

The motor lifeboat Harriot Dixon was built by Groves and Guttridge Ltd, on the Isle of Wight.[2] She took up station at the beach lifeboat house on 2 August 1934[2] and remained at station as the No 2 lifeboat for thirty years until 15 June 1964.[2] This lifeboat had been funded from a legacy of £3,750 left by William Edward Dixon, a surgeon, of West Worthing of the then county of Sussex (Now West Sussex).[2] Mr Dixon had died in 1921 and had left the money to fund a lifeboat to be named after his mother and if possible to be stationed on the Kentish or east coast.[2] Harriot Dixon went on to be the longest serving motor lifeboat at Cromer.

Rescues and service

DateCasualtyLives Saved
1939
20 MarchMotor vessel FOSNA of Bergen, landed a sick man
9 October
12–13 OctoberSteamship LINWOOD of Middlesbrough, saved 12
12 DecemberSteamship CORBROOK of London, stood by
1940
13 FebruaryTanker BRITISH TRIUMPH of London, saved two boats
18 November H M Trawler DUNGENESS, gave help
20 NovemberH M Trawler DUNGENESS, gave help
10 DecemberSteamship ROYSTON of Newcastle upon Tyne, gave help
1941
11 MarchSteamship KENTON of Newcastle, salvaged gear
1 AprilH M Trawler VALEXA, landed 1
14 AprilH M Trawler MADDEN and TAMORA, took out doctor landed 4 injured men
6 AugustSteamship TAARA of Pärnu, saved8
9 September to 4 NovemberSteamship TEDDINGTON of London, gave help on 6 occasions
1942
4 NovemberH M Trawler, Brought papers ashore
3 DecemberFishing boat MORNING STAR of Cromer, escorted boat
1947
26 OctoberMotor vessel GOLD GNOME of London, stood by and gave help
1948
1 AprilSpeed boat DAY II, landed 2 from steamship DYNAMO
11–12 SeptemberMotor Trawler GEORGE LANGWAY of Fecamp, gave help
1949
26 JanuaryMotor vessel FARNDALE of Middlesbrough, gave help
1950
6 FebruaryTree fishing boats of Cromer and one from Runton, escorted boats
17 JuneMotor vessel GLAMIS of Dundee, landed a sick man
1953
31 MayFisheries Protection vessel HMS CHEERFUL, landed passengers
5 June Fishing boats MISS CROMER and WHY WORRY of Cromer, escorted boats
15 SeptemberFishing boat WHY WORRY of Cromer, escorted boat
1955
28 SeptemberSteamship MOORWOOD of London, took out doctor
17 DecemberThree fishing boats of Cromer, escorted boats
1957
22 JulyYacht POCOCITA, stood by
1960
16 AprilFishing boat JUNE ROSE of Sheringham, escorted boat
1961
13 JanuaryMotor vessel JURA of Groningen, gave help
15 AugustCrab Fishing boats FRIENDSHIP, BLACK BEAUTY, WILLIAM ROBERT & ENGLISH ROSE of Cromer, escorted boats
1963
15 AprilSteamship HUDSON SOUND of London, landed a sick man

Notes and References

  1. The Cromer Lifeboats, by Bob Malster & Peter Stibbons,:Poppyland Publishing,
  2. Cromer Lifeboats 1804–2004, Leach, Nicholas & Russell, Paul, Pub: Tempus Publishing, 2004,