| Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station | |
| Map Type: | Cornwall |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Sennen Cove, TR19 7DF |
| Location Country: | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates: | 50.0779°N -5.7037°W |
| Building Type: | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Opened Date: | 1853 |
| Owner: | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed at Sennen Cove in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a all weather boat (ALB) and a inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Sennen Cove is situated just to the north of Land's End, the most westerly point in mainland England. Following the loss of the New Commercial on the Brisons in January 1851, the RNLI built a boathouse at the top of the beach in 1853 and extended it in 1864 when a larger lifeboat was sent to the station. In 1876 a new boathouse was built on the landward side of the road,[1] but in 1896 it was replaced by a new one on the site of the original building.[2] [3]
A motor lifeboat was sent to the station in 1922. In preparation for this, the boathouse was given a new slipway in 1919 and a turntable was provided inside so that the lifeboat could be hauled up the slipway bow-first and then turned ready for its next service. Ten years later a second slipway was provided.[2]
In 1994 an ILB was added to the station. This is kept in the boathouse. When it was to be launched it was craned onto the slipway and taken down to the water on a carriage, but a new slipway was provided to make launching the ILB easier at low tide. At the same time the boathouse was modified to take a longer boat, and in 2001 the roof was removed and a new one installed ready for the receipt of a taller, faster lifeboat. New crew facilities were installed at the same time.[2]
The volunteer crews of the RNLI do not expect reward or recognition for their work, but the records include many rescues that have been recognised by letters, certificates and medals from the RNLI management. This list is just some of the most notable.
An RNLI silver medal was awarded in 1868 to both Coxswain Nichols and Coastguard Officer S Morrison for rescuing the sole survivor of the Devon. A later coxswain, Henry Nicholas, received a silver medal in 1909 for a meritorious service to the Fairport when it was in trouble.[1]
In 1919 the Sennen Cove Lifeboat was recognised for rescuing eight people from the SS Falmouth Castle. A silver medal and three bronze medals being given to members of the crew. That same year saw Henry Nicholas receive another silver medal along with Second Coxswain Thomas Pender, while the 12 crew members were awarded bronze medals for saving eight people from a motor launch. One of the crew was 17-year-old Henry Nicholas Junior. He later became coxswain and was awarded another bronze medal in 1964 for leading the rescue of five people from the trawler Victoire Roger which had caught fire.[1]
A search for the sinking MV Union Crystal saw Coxswain/Mechanic H E Pengilly awarded with a silver medal. Another sinking vessel, the Tungufoss, resulted in seven lives being saved and Coxswain/Mechanic Maurice Hutchens receiving a silver medal in 1981. In 1995 Coxswain Terence George was awarded a bronze medal for the rescue of five people from the fishing vessel Julian Paul.[1]
The following are awards made at Sennen Cove[4]
Matthew Nichols, Coxswain - 1868
Sylvester Morrison, Chief Officer of Coastguards - 1868
Henry Nicholas, Coxswain - 1909
Alfred Jackson - 1919
Thomas Henry Nicholas, Coxswain - 19202
Thomas Pender, Second Coxswain - 1920
Horace Eric Pengilly, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1978 (posthumous)
Maurice Hutchens, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1981
Thomas Hicks (Master) - 1919
David Sleeman Jnr (fisherman) - 1919
Edward Sleeman (fisherman) - 1919
Edmund George, crew member - 1920
Edward George, crew member - 1920
Ernest George, crew member - 1920
Thomas George, crew member - 1920
Edward Nicholas, crew member - 1920
Henry Nicholas, crew member - 1920
Henry Nicholas Jnr., crew member - 1920
Herbert Nicholas, crew member - 1920
James Howard Nicholas, crew member - 1920
John Nicholas, crew member - 1920
John Penrose, crew member - 1920
Robert Roberts, crew member - 1920
Henry Nicholas, Coxswain - 1964 (Second-Service Clasp)
Terence George, Coxswain - 1995
The Lifeboat Crew - 1978
The coxswain and crew - 1979 (Fastnet Race)
Henry Nicholas, Coxswain - 1962
J H Nicholas, Second Coxswain - 1962
Edmund George, Bowman - 1962
Richard George, Motor Mechanic - 1962
The Lifeboat Crew - 1981
Philip Charles Shannon, Second Coxswain - 2010[5]
The lifeboat station stands on the beach at the head of two slipways. The masonry walls date from 1929 but the shallowly curved metal roof was added in 2001. Inside, as well as the boathouse, is a three-storey crew facility. The ground floor is a changing room for the ILB crew, above that is a similar facility for the ALB crew, and on the top floor is a crew room.[2]
The RNLI aims to reach any casualty up to 50miles from its stations, and within two hours in good weather. To do this the Tamar class lifeboat at Sennen Cove has an operating range of 250nmi and a top speed of 25kn.[6] Adjacent lifeboats are at Penlee Lifeboat Station to the south, to the west, and to the north.[7]
'ON' is the Official Number used in RNLI records from 1884.
'Op. No.' is the operational number carried on the boat.
| At Sennen | ON | Name | Class | class=unsortable | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1853–1864 | (no name) | boat.[8] | ||||
| 1864–1880 | Cousins William and Mary Ann of Bideford | boat. | ||||
| 1880–1893 | 182 | Standard self-righter | boat. | |||
| 1893–1922 | 357 | Ann Newbon | Standard self-righter | boat. | ||
| 1922–1948 | 674 | The Newbons | Self-righter | motor lifeboat. Sold in 1951 for use as a yacht.[9] | ||
| 1948–1973 | 856 | Susan Ashley | Watson | Later used at and . Retired in 1981 and now on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard.[10] | ||
| 1973–1991 | 999 | 37-28 | Diana White | Reported as a pleasure boat in Tauanga, New Zealand.[11] | ||
| 1991–1998 | 1176 | 12-19 | The Four Boys | Stationed at from 1999.[12] | ||
| 1121 | 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | Previously stationed at .[13] | |||
| 2010– | 1294 | 16-14 | City of London III | |||
| At Sennen[14] | Name | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1995 | D-450 | Anthony | EA16 |
| 1995–1996 | D-448 | Sea Ranger | EA16 |
| 1996–2004 | D-490 | Spirit of the ACC | EA16 |
| 2004–2013 | D-624 | Spirit of The Royal Logistic Corps | IB1 |
| 2013- | D-763 | Amy Brown | IB1 |