| Mallaig Lifeboat Station | |
| Map Type: | Scotland Highland |
| Pushpin Relief: | 2 |
| Address: | Harbour Road |
| Location City: | Mallaig, Invernessshire, PH41 4QD |
| Location Country: | Scotland |
| Coordinates: | 57.0062°N -5.829°W |
| Building Type: | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Opened Date: | 1948 |
| Owner: | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website: | Mallaig RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Mallaig Lifeboat Station is located at Harbour Road in Mallaig, a harbour town at the top of the north Morar peninsula, on the north-west coast of Scotland.
A lifeboat was first placed at Mallaig by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1948.[1]
The station currently operates a All-weather lifeboat, 17-26 Henry Alston Hewat (ON 1250), on station since 2001.[2]
Mallaig Lifeboat Station was established in January 1948, after difficulties maintaining a crew at forced the closure of the station in December 1947. The Tobermory lifeboat, the Sir Arthur Rose (ON 801) was transferred from Tobermory to become the Mallaig lifeboat.[1]
At 11:00 on 29 December 1951, the Sir Arthur Rose was launched, to provide a service to the Post Office. The regular boat had not been able to deliver the mail due to bad weather, so in rough seas and a strong north-westerly wind, provisions and the mail were delivered to the islands of Eigg, Rhum and Canna. The lifeboat returned home at 21:00.[3]
In a north-westerly gale on the 17 January 1953, the 6600-ton motor vessel Tapti of London, on passage to Newcastle upon Tyne, ran aground in the Gunna Sound between Coll and Tiree, with 62 people aboard. lifeboat was launched at 23:00, and the Mallaig boat Sir Arthur Rose launched at 23:52. The Mallaig boat was first on scene, but decided to lay off until daybreak. In the half-light of morning, Mallaig boat went alongside one of the ships boats, which had been lowered, and one by one, all 62 crew dropped down the rope to the waiting lifeboat. Both lifeboats made for Tobermory, arriving at 23:30.[4]
In 1955, the RNLI would receive one of the largest bequests received to date. Mrs E. M. M. Gordon Cubbin, late of the Isle of Man, left sufficient funds to provide four lifeboats, each costing in excess of £30,000. Two lifeboats were to be stationed at and, and two larger 52-foot lifeboats were for and Mallaig. Mallaig received the lifeboat E. M. M. Gordon Cubbin (ON 936) in 1957.[5]
E. M. M. Gordon Cubbin (ON 936) was launched in gale-force conditions on 14 September 1963, to reports of a group of people trapped on a cliff in Loch Duich. Picking up local man Mr McDonald at the head of the Loch, who knew the location of the group, five men and 2 children were rescued. Second Coxswain Charles Henderson was awarded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum', with the rest of the crew receiving 'Vellum Service Certificates.[6]
On 27 October 1988, the Mallaig lifeboat 52-21 The Davina and Charles Matthews Hunter (ON 1078) was launched to the aid of the motor fishing vessel Galilean. Showing great skill with the handling of the lifeboat in Force 11 conditions, Coxswain Thomas Ralston managed to tow the vessel to a safe mooring in Loch Nevis. Ralston was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, the first medal to be awarded at Mallaig.[7]
Plans were drawn up to modernise Mallaig lifeboat station in 1998. A conversion of shop premises next to the harbour provided new crew facilities, and was completed in September 1998. A pontoon berth was constructed later.[1] [8]
In 2001, Mallaig would receive the new lifeboat 17-26 Henry Alston Hewat (ON 1250). Of the £1.8 million cost of the boat, £1 million was from the bequest of the late Catherine Hewat, and at a ceremony on the 16 June 2001, the boat was named after her father, Henry Alston Hewat.[9]
The following are awards made at Mallaig.[1] [7]
Thomas Ralston, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1989
Ian Bruce Watt, Coxswain - 1951
Ian Bruce Watt, Coxswain - 1959
Charles Henderson, Second Coxswain - 1963
Ian Angus MacNaughton, Acting Mechanic - 1986
David McMinn, crew member - 1963
George Edward Lawrie, crew member - 1963
D. Henderson, crew member - 1963
R. Rimmer, crew member - 1963
R. Mackenzie, crew member - 1963
I. Campbell, crew member - 1963
G. Christie, crew member - 1963
Mr. McDonald, local man - 1963.
Michael Ian Currie, Coxswain - 2010
In memory of those lost whilst serving Mallaig lifeboat.[1]
Patrick Morrison (suffered a heart attack, and died 4 days later)
| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 801 | – | Sir Arthur Rose | 1948−1957 | [10] | |
| 936 | – | E. M. M. Gordon Cubbin | 1957−1982 | [11] | |
| 1078 | The Davina and Charles Matthews Hunter | 1982−2001 | |||
| 1250 | Henry Alston Hewat | 2001− | |||