Swanage Lifeboat Station
The station in 2019, with the Wellington clock tower in the background
Swanage Lifeboat Station is located in Dorset
Swanage Lifeboat Station
Location of Swanage Lifeboat station within Dorset
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationPeveril Point, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2AY
CountryEngland
Coordinates50°36′28″N 1°56′48″W / 50.6078°N 1.9466°W / 50.6078; -1.9466
Opened16 September 1875
Cost£525 (equivalent to £52,617 in 2021)
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Swanage Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station[1] located on Peveril Point in the town of Swanage in Dorset, England. It operates two lifeboats, the Shannon-class AWB 13-13 RNLB George Thomas Lacy (ON 1320) and the D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB) RNLB Roy Norgrove (D-884).[2]

It underwent extensive re-development in 2015/16 with a new purpose built boathall to accommodate its new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat (AWB), which opened in 2017.[3]

History

On 4 March 1875, prompted by the recent wreck, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Committee of Management agreed to form a lifeboat station at Swanage. The ship's first service was on 13 March 1876, when it saved a ketch, the William Pitt of Poole, when it drifted ashore near Bournemouth. In 1890, the slipway was lengthened. In 1902, gas was laid onto the lifeboat house, and the station's first motor lifeboat was sent in 1928.[3]

1992 renovation

The Robert Charles Brown in 2010.

In 1992, to make room for the station's new Mersey-class lifeboat, work was carried out on the boathouse, which included an extension to the side of the boathouse and an increase in the roof's height. Work was also undertaken on the slipway.[3]

On 3 September 1992, the new boat was officially named the RNLB Robert Charles Brown (ON 1182), in honour of Robert Charles Brown BEM, who was a lifeboatman at the station for over fifty years.[3]

ILBs

The station in 2009, before it was rebuilt.

On 3 April 1993 a D-class Inshore lifeboat (ILB) was sent to the station for evaluation, and a new slipway was built the following year to accommodate it. In 1995, the ILB was permanently stationed and was named RNLB Phyl Clare 2 (D-475), and was placed on service on 8 April.[3]

In 2002, a shoreworks project including extra parking which cost £13,333 was completed in July.[3]

On 27 August 2003, a new ILB, the RNLB Jack Cleare (D-613) was placed on service, with the RNLB Phyl Clare 2 (D-475) being withdrawn.[3]

On 12 July 2012, the current ILB, the RNLB Phyl & Jack (D-752) was placed on service, with the RNLB Jack Cleare (D-613) being withdrawn. This lifeboat was funded in part by a gift and bequest from Mrs Phyl Cleare.[3]

2016 rebuild

In November 2014, the RNLI's contractors (BAM Nuttall) arrived on site to start modifications of the boathouse.[3] The Mersey-class RNLB Robert Charles Brown (ON 1182) had its final slipway launch on 1 February 2015.[4]

On 8 April 2016, the Shannon-class lifeboat arrived, and was officially placed on service on 20 April. The Mersey-class RNLB Robert Charles Brown (ON 1182) left Swanage for the last time on 22 April, after more than 23 years of service. On 8 November, trials for the new Shannon class slipway began, and the boat moved into its boathouse on 14 December. On 13 February 2017, the RNLB Phyl & Jack (D-752) was moved into its new boathouse.[3]

On 29 April 2017, the Shannon-class lifeboat was officially named the RNLB George Thomas Lacy (ON 1320) (13-13), and the new lifeboat station was officially opened. The new lifeboat station was opened to the public on 1 May.[3] The new station cost a total of £8 million, more than £465,000 of which was raised locally.[5]

In December 2023, Swanage Lifeboat station welcomed RNLB Roy Norgrove (D-884) as their new Inshore Lifeboat, replacing RNLB Phyl & Jack (D-752) which had been on service for 12 years.

Rescues and awards

Over the years, Swanage Lifeboat Station crew have been involved in many rescues. Ten RNLI medals for gallantry, five silver and five bronze have been awarded, the last in 1996.[3]

Fleet

All-Weather lifeboats

ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name In service [6] Class Comments
193 Charlotte Mary 1875–1890 35ft 1in Self Righting (P&S)
296 William Erle 1890–1893 37ft Self Righting (P&S)
358 William Erle 1893–1914 37ft Self Righting (P&S)
664 Herbert Sturmy 1918–1928 37ft 6in Self Righting (P&S)
706 Thomas Markby 1928–1949 40ft Self Righting (Motor)
858 R.L.P. 1949–1975 41ft Watson-class
1023 37-31 J. Reginald Corah 1975–1992 Rother-class
1182 12-23 Robert Charles Brown 1992–2016 Mersey-class
1320 13-13 George Thomas Lacey 2016– Shannon-class

Inshore Lifeboats

Op No Name In service [6] Class Comments
D-406 Phyl Clare 1993–1994 D-class (EA16)
D-417 Douglas Hurndall 1994–1995 D-class (EA16)
D-475 Phyl Clare 2 1995–2003 D-class (EA16)
D-613 Jack Cleare 2003–2012 D-class (IB1)
D-752 Phyl & Jack 2012–2023 D-class (IB1)
D-884 Roy Norgrove[7] 2023– D-class (IB1)
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References

  1. ↑ "Swanage Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Swanage's lifeboats". RNLI. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Swanage's Station History". RNLI. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Swanage RNLI lifeboat station sees final launch". BBC News. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "RNLI officially opens new Swanage lifeboat station". BBC News. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  7. ↑ "Swanage Lifeboat Station welcomes new inshore lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
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