Skegness Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 53°08′30″N 0°20′48″E / 53.14176°N 0.34673°E / 53.14176; 0.34673
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Skegness Lifeboat Station
Skegness Lifeboat Station
Skegness Lifeboat Station is located in Lincolnshire
Skegness Lifeboat Station
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationTower Esplanade,
AddressSkegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 3HH
CountryEngland
Coordinates53°08′30″N 0°20′48″E / 53.14176°N 0.34673°E / 53.14176; 0.34673
Opened1830 taken over by RNLI in 1864
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Skegness Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station located in the town of Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[1] The station is located on the seafront of the south-east coast, north of the Wash and south of the Humber Estuary. This area of the British coastline is characterised by many shoals and constantly changing sandbanks, many of which lie between the town and the East Dudgeon Lightship.[2] The building dates from 1990 and was the first in the British Isles constructed especially for a Mersey-class lifeboat. The boathouse also accommodates an Inshore Lifeboat and a souvenir shop.[3]

As of 2020, there are two lifeboats stationed at Skegness, the Inshore D-class (IB1) Lifeboat RNLB The Holland Family (D-842) and the Shannon-class All-Weather Boat RNLB 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill (ON 1324).

History[edit]

The first lifeboat service in Skegness was organized by the Lincolnshire Coast Shipwreck Association which placed a lifeboat at the Gibraltar Point coastguard station. In 1859 the lifeboat and boathouse were moved from Gibraltar Point to a position in Skegness, among dunes to a location now called Lifeboat Avenue.

The station was taken under the control of the RNLI in 1864 who had a new boathouse constructed. The location of this first RNLI station was Lifeboat Avenue, close to the original station. It is now a privately owned dwelling.

The RNLI built another boathouse in 1892, located on Skegness South Parade to the south of the clock tower. This boathouse had access doors for the lifeboat at either end of the building. There was also a watch room constructed on the first floor. This station was in use until 1990 when it was sold to a private buyer.

The RNLI placed an inshore lifeboat (ILB) at Skegness in May 1964. The ILB was kept in a small house close to the main beach until it was moved in 1990 to the new lifeboat station on the Tower Esplanade.

In 1990 it was decided that the cover for this area of the Lincolnshire coast would be greatly improved with the placing of a Mersey-class All-weather lifeboat at Skegness. To accommodate the new lifeboat a new purpose-made station was constructed for the Mersey-class lifeboat on the Tower Esplanade. The inshore lifeboat was also placed within the same building as well as improved crew and equipment facilities. The building also included a souvenir shop to help with branch fundraising

On 20 May 2016, the Skegness D-class lifeboat, RNLB Peterborough Beer Festival IV (D-739) was taking part in a search for a missing person when a fire started on board. The fire spread rapidly, and after issuing a mayday, the crew abandoned the vessel, swimming 200 yd (180 m) to shore while the lifeboat sank. The RNLI started recovery operations, but the damage was severe.[4][5]

In May 2017, Shannon-class lifeboat 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill (ON 1324) officially replaced the Mersey-class lifeboat Lincolnshire Poacher. The new lifeboat cost £2.2 million. She was launched at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre at Poole on 9 September 2016, delivered to Skegness on 28 January 2017, and officially named on 27 May 2017. Funding came from the legacy of Joel Grunnill, and a donation from his cousin April Grunnill, both of whom had been volunteers with the station.[6]

In 2019, D-class (IB1) lifeboat The Holland Family (D-842) was donated by Robert Holland, in honour of his parents and wider family, who have been long-term volunteers at the station.[7]

Notable rescues[edit]

On 18 October 1854[8] the lifeboat crew launched to assist the stricken brig Atlanta, which had been driven onto the shore in a gale three miles north of Skegness. The Skegness lifeboat had to be drawn to the beach from town by six horses before her launch.[8] The lifeboat rescued all aboard the Atlanta. The lifeboat's Coxswain was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue.[8]

On 5 December 1875[9] the lifeboat Herbert Ingram]] launched at 6 am to rescue the Colchester barge Star, which had been driven aground in a gale. The lifeboat took twenty minutes to reach the Star.[9] Two crewmen were taken off the stricken vessel, but the Star's master fell into the water between the two boats. Two lifeboat crewmen went into the rough water with a line and held on to the master whilst the lifeboat was rowed to shore. For their bravery in this rescue both lifeboat crewmen were awarded RNLI silver medals.[9]

On 9 November 1912, the Norwegian brig Azha suffered heavy storm damage off the Humber. Waterlogged and helpless, she drifted south for four days. Her crew were close to death when she was spotted, aground, on the Skegness Middle Sand. The “Samuel Lewis”, the station's last unpowered lifeboat, was launched to assist. Despite the severe weather, the lifeboat managed to get alongside the Azha and take off her crew. The brig was breaking up and was abandoned. King Haakon VII of Norway awarded the two lifeboat coxswains silver medals and written thanks.[2]

On 27 December 1965, jackup oil rig Sea Gem collapsed 47 miles north-west of the Norfolk town of Cromer. Oakley-class lifeboat Charles Fred Grantham (ON 977) was one of several rescue boats launched the following day to search for the 32 crew of the Sea Gem. The search lasted 14 hours in high seas, freezing conditions, and gale-force wind.[3][10] 19 of the Sea Gem crew were rescued, five confirmed deceased, and eight were never recovered.[3][10] The RNLI sent the station a letter of appreciation for their part in the search.

Station honours[edit]

The following are awards made at Skegness[11]

Samuel Moody, Coxswain - 1851
Samuel Moody, Coxswain - 1854 (Second-Service Clasp)
George Chesnutt, crew member - 1876
Samuel Moody, crew member - 1876
  • Silver medal, awarded by the King of Norway
Matthew Grunnill, Coxswain - 1912
Montague Grunnill, Second Coxswain - 1912
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Paul Martin, Coxswain - 1998
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
John Irving, Coxswain - 2002
  • Silver Medal of the National Canine Defence League
W Perrin, Coxswain - 1954
Joel Merrien Grunnill, Chairman, Lifeboat Management Group - 2008[12]
Ray Chapman - 2016[13][14]
Doreen April Grunnill - 2016[15][16]

Skegness lifeboats and tractors[edit]

All-weather lifeboats[17][edit]

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name In service [18] Class Comments Photo
− − Unnamed 1825−1864 Plenty, 8 oars Unnamed lifeboats of the Lincolnshire Coast Shipwreck Association
− − Unnamed 1830−1864 24ft Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S) (8 oars)
[19]
− − Herbert Ingram 1864−1874 33-foot Self-Righting (P&S) (8 oars)
[19]
− − Herbert Ingram 1874−1888 33-foot Self-Righting (P&S) (10 oars)
[19]
203 − Ann, John and Mary 1888−1906 37-foot Self-Righting (P&S) (12 oars)
554 − Samuel Lewis 1906−1932 35ft Liverpool (P&S) (12 oars)
760 − Anne Allen 1932−1953 Liverpool
833 − The Cuttle 1953−1964 Liverpool
977 37-10 Charles Fred Grantham 1964−1990 37ft Oakley
1166 12-008 Lincolnshire Poacher 1990−2017 Mersey
1324 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill 2017– Shannon [20]

Inshore lifeboats[17][edit]

Op. No.[b] Name In service [18] Class Comments
D-15 Unnamed 1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-58 Unnamed 1965−1972 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-212 Unnamed 1973−1987 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-326 Michel Phillipe 1987−1994 D-class (EA16)
D-460 Leicester Fox 1994−2002 D-class (EA16)
D-573 Leicester Fox II 2002−2008 D-class (EA16)
D-538 Tom Broom 2009−2010 D-class (EA16)
D-739 Peterborough Beer Festival IV 2010−2016 D-class (IB1) Destroyed by fire
20 May 2016
D-792 Marie Theresa Bertha 2016–2019 D-class (IB1)
D-842 The Holland Family 2019– D-class (IB1)

Launch and Recovery Tractors[edit]

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type In service [18] Photo Comments
T15 FU 4892 Clayton 1925–1932
T16 YW 3377 Clayton 1932–1937
T27 DGP 909 Case L 1937–1955
T43 JXR 934 Case LA 1955–1964
T75 AYP 704B Case 1000D 1964–1966
T79 DLB 481C Case 1000D 1966–1974
T73 500 GYR Case 1000D 1974–1977
T74 136 HLC Case 1000D 1977–1979
T89 WEL 302S Talus MBC Case 1150B 1979–1984
T93 A496 CUX Talus MB-H Crawler 1984–1995
T117 L784 JNT Talus MB-H Crawler 1995–2005
T114 JI26 WUJ Talus MB-H Crawler 2005–2017

Shannon launch and recovery system (SLARS)[edit]

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Name Type In service [18] Photo Comments
SC-T11 HJ16 JVU Fred Henley SLARS (Supacat) 2016–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c d Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Neighbouring stations[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ OS Explorer map: Skegness, Alford & Spilsby: (1:25 000): ISBN 0319238229
  2. ^ a b Skegness Lifeboats – An illustrated History. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Landmark Publishing Ltd. Year Published:2008. ISBN 978-1-84306-423-7
  3. ^ a b c For Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 1, East Coast of England – Berwick to Hastings, Page 42, Skegness. ISBN 1 85794 129 2
  4. ^ "Skegness lifeboat crew forced to swim after boat sinks". BBC News. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Crew flee Skegness Inshore Lifeboat after fire starts onboard". Skegness Standard. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ "New Lifeboat For Skegness". ITV news. 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Grantham family funeral director donates lifeboat to RNLI Skegness". Grantham Journal. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Lifeboat Gallantry – RNLI Medals and how they were won. Author:Cox, Barry. Publisher:Spink & Son Ltd and the RNLI. Work: Page 109, MOODY, Samuel. ISBN 0-907605-89-3
  9. ^ a b c Lifeboat Gallantry – RNLI Medals and how they were won. Author:Cox, Barry. Publisher:Spink & Son Ltd and the RNLI. Work: Page 160, MOODY, Samuel. CHESNUTT, George. ISBN 0-907605-89-3
  10. ^ a b Lifeboats of the Humber – Two centuries of gallantry. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Amberley Publishing, first edition 2010. Work: Chapter 8, The last Watson Lifeboat, page72. ISBN 978 1 84868 875 9
  11. ^ "Skegness Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Members of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The London Gazette. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Life-saving Skegness RNLI coxswain gets MBE". BBC. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  15. ^ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Long Standing RNLI Volunteer recognised with British Empire Medal". RNLI. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b "RNLI Skegness Lifeboats and Lifeguards". Skegness RNLI Lifeboat Station. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  18. ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  19. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  20. ^ "Family pay for new £1.5m lifeboat in Skegness, Lincolnshire". BBC. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
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