RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960) explained

Official Number: ON 960
Donor: A gift of The Unity Friendly Society (The Oddfellows)
Station Sheringham
The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (RNLI Official Number 960) was an lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)[1] [2] stationed at in the English county of Norfolk[3] from 10 July 1961 until 1990 when she was replaced after 29 years service by an second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) in May 1992. During the time that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was on station at Sheringham, she performed 127 service[1] launches, rescuing 134 lives.[2]

Design and construction

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was built at the yard of William Osborne at Littlehampton, West Sussex.[4] She was an Oakley class self-righting design[4] which combined great stability with the ability to self-right in the event of the lifeboat capsizing. This was achieved by a system of shifting water ballast.[4] The system worked by the lifeboat taking on one and half tons of sea water at launching in to a tank built into the base of the hull. If the lifeboat then reached a crucial point of capsize the ballast water would transfer through valves to a righting tank built into the port side.[4] If the capsize was to the starboard side of the lifeboat, the water shift started when an angle of 165° was reached.[4] This would push the boat into completing a full 360° roll. If the capsize was to the port side, the water transfer started at 110°. In this case the weight of water combined with the weight of machinery aboard the lifeboat usually managed to stop the roll and allow the lifeboat to bounce back to upright.[4]

Hull construction

The hull of The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was constructed from African mahogany built with two skins.[4] Each skin was diagonally laid with a layer of calico laid between the skins. The outer skin was thick with the inner skin being thick. The keel was iron and weighed 1.154 tons. The hull was divided into eleven watertight compartments. The lifeboat was 37feet in length and 11feet in beam and displaced,[4] when fully laden with crew and gear. She was fitted with twin Perkins P4M, Diesel engine, which moved her over the water at 8kn.[4] The wheelhouse was positioned amidships.

Equipment

The lifeboat was fitted with Decca 060 radar and all she carried Pye Westminster VHF and an Ajax MF radio telephones. In addition a radio Direction Finding set was carried, which gave a magnetic bearing to a transmitting station. The electric searchlight was standard along with Pains Wessex speedlines.

Service and rescues

The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows performed a total of 127 service launches during here 29 years at Sheringham[1] becoming the longest serving Oakley class lifeboat in the RNLI's fleet.[2]

Coxswains

Over the period that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was stationed at Sheringham she had a total of five coxswains who were as follows:

Rescue of the Lucy

One notable rescue was carried out on 15 August 1961.[2] the Lucy was herself a converted ship's lifeboat and she was on her maiden voyage from Peterborough to Southwold. There was a north west wind blowing, bitterly cold and sea conditions were described as short steep sea.The Lucy sprung a leak at the stern and started to take on water rapidly. Her four crew became concerned and started to send up distress signals. The signals were spotted and The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows made what was going to be a difficult launched. Because of the conditions of the tide, haul-off rope had to be used to prevent the lifeboat from being washed broadsides onto the beach. Just as the boat left the carriage the mast holding the haul-off rope snapped and it was only by skilful handling by coxwain Henry 'Downtide' West[2] that tragedy was averted. The lifeboat found the Lucy 5miles north east of Sheringham. Three lifeboatmen were put aboard the Lucy to help transfer the boat owner's unconscious wife and young son to The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The owner was transferred next, while the fourth member of the crew remained on board with the lifeboatmen while a tow was attempted. In the fierce swell the tow rope snapped and the coxwain decided to evacuate the four men remaining on board. The casualties were landed at Sheringham and all made a full recovery.

Retirement

When The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was retired from service her place was temporally taken by the last of Sheringham's all-weather lifeboats, the Lloyds II,[1] [2] built in 1966[1] and paid for by donations from members of Lloyd's of London.[1] On 18 April 1992,[2] Lloyds II left Sheringham having performed seven services while on station. In May 1992 an second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) also named Manchester Unity of Oddfellows became the permanent replacement for The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960

Service and rescues

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960
DateCasualtyLives saved
1961
13 JulyFour crab boats, escorted boats
8 AugustSmall Yacht, saved boat3
15 AugustConverted Ships Lifeboat Lucy, saved boat4
1962
9 JulyConverted Ships Lifeboat Sea Hawk, saved boat4
7 AugustFishing vessel Sprat, saved boat2
1963
15 AugustCabin cruiser Buccaneer, In tow of crab boat, saved boat, landed 3
1964
1 SeptemberCrab boat White Rose, of Sheringham, gave help
1965
20 JuneSpeed boat Sea Sprite, saved boat2
15 AugustYacht Tablet, saved yacht
15 AugustSpeed boat Red Barrel, landed 2
5 SeptemberCabin Cruiser Sirius, gave help
1966
1 JulyMotor vessel Pantarali of Panama, landed 2 and a body
1967
18 AprilFour crab boats of Sheringham, gave help
1968
29 JanuaryMotor cruiser Hilary Anne, saved boat1
20 MayNine fishing boats of Sheringham, escorted
25 MayFishing boat Tania of Sheringham, saved boat2
30 JuneCabin cruiser She's a Lady, assisted to save cruiser3
17 AugustSailing Dinghy, saved dinghy2
1969
9 FebruaryMotor vessel Richmond Castle, of London, landed a sick man
17 SeptemberCrab boat Cicely, of Sheringham, escorted
1971
3 JanuaryFishing boat Our Boys, of Sheringham, escorted
8 FebruaryFishing boat Welcome Messenger, of Sheringham, escorted
29 AprilEight fishing boats of Sheringham, stood by
3 JuneFishing boats Our Boys and Mizpah of Sheringham, stood by
9 JuneConverted motor fishing boat Peggy, of Sheringham, saved boat1
19 JuneCabin Cruiser John Kay, saved boat6
1972
31 JulyCabin cruiser Cylvia, gave help
16 SeptemberYacht Sea Boots, saved2
1973
1 JanuaryDudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man
6 AprilYacht Sallie of Maldon, saved3
24 AprilDudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man
8 AugustFishing vessel Ame of King's Lynn, gave help
7 NovemberHaisborough Lightvessel, landed a sick man
1974
27 AprilSix motor fishing vessels, escort vessels
25 NovemberFishing vessel Kilsyth, landed an injured man
1976
1 JanuaryFinnlark of Finland, landed an injured man
2 JuneYacht Blue Tit, saved boat2
4 SeptemberBarge Focena, saved boat2
1977
5 AugustYacht Niord, gave help
25 OctoberDinghy, escorted boat
1978
28 MarchFishing boat Jonathan James, gave help
5 JulyConverted Admiralty supply vessel VIC.32, escorted vessel
8 SeptemberMotor launch Ailsa, gave help
1979
29 JanuaryFishing boat Mizpah, gave help
5 AprilFishing boat Mizpah, escorted boat
16 AprilFishing boat Harvester, Saved2
26 AugustMotor cruiser Dora Lee, saved5
1980
8 AprilFishing boats, escorted boats
1983
9 AugustCabin cruiser Cocktail II saved boat3
1984
11 MayFishing boats, escorted boats
24 MayFishing boats, escorted boats
10 AugustMotor fishing vessel Venturer, saved vessel2
1985
20 AprilRubber Dinghy Force Four GT, saved boat2
13 MayFishing boats, escorted boats
3 JuneCargo vessel Bandick of Guernsey, landed an injured man
1 AugustRafts, saved60
3 AugustCatamaran Norwegian Blue, stood by
15 SeptemberTwo skin divers saved2
1986
28 OctoberFishing boat Crystal Dawn, saved boat2
1987
25 AprilFishing boat Fragrance gave help
28 MayMotor fishing vessel Kathleen, Mizpah and Pegasus, gave help
28 MayFishing vessel Good Courage, escorted vessel
25 JulyFishing boats, escorted boats
29 JulyFishing vessel Sea Eagle, Landed 3 sick men
4 OctoberFishing vessel Caroline, saved2
1988
15 MayMotor yacht Kitaja, craft brought in–gave help
26 JuneFishing vessel Justifier, craft brought in-gave help
19 AugustSailboard, saved board1
2 SeptemberFishing vessel Liberty, craft brought in-gave help
1989
15 FebruaryRoRo cargo vessel Torga Thia, of Sweden, stood by
16 AprilFiahing boat Cheryl C, svaed boat2
30 MayFishing vessel Pegasus, of Great Yarmouth, escorted vessel
21 JuneFishing vessels Donna Maria and Justified, gave help
29 JuneYacht Meg, saved boat3
29 JuneSailing club safety boat Jeanie, escorted boat
29 JuneFishing vessel Sea Eagle, escorted vessel
1990
14 AprilSailboard, saved board1
15 JulyFishing vessel Blue Boy, gave help
19 AugustSkin diver, saved1
19 AugustTwo motor boats, gave help
28 SeptemberLast Service, Yacht Smiling Swiss, landed an injured woman

Notes and References

  1. Sheringham Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas and Russell, Paul :Published by landmark Pub Ltd, 2009:
  2. The Sheringham Lifeboats, 1838-200: By Bensley, Mick: Published :Bengunn 2003:
  3. OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East. .
  4. Oakley Class Lifeboats: An Illustrated History of the RNLI's Oakley and Rother Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas :Published by The History Press Ltd: