Jump to content

Sheerness Lifeboat Station

Add links
Coordinates: 51°26′46″N 0°44′37″E / 51.44611°N 0.74361°E / 51.44611; 0.74361
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheerness Lifeboat Station
Sheerness and Garrison Point.
Sheerness Lifeboat Station is located in Kent
Sheerness Lifeboat Station
Sheerness, Kent
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationSheerness Lifeboat Station
AddressSheerness Docks, Garrison Point,
Town or citySheerness, Kent, ME12 1RS
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°26′46″N 0°44′37″E / 51.44611°N 0.74361°E / 51.44611; 0.74361
Opened1970
Inaugurated1969
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Sheerness Lifeboat Station is strategically located at Garrison Point in Sheerness, a town on the Isle of Sheppey, sitting on the north coast of the county of Kent, at the mouth of the River Medway, and overlooking the Thames estuary.[1][2]

A lifeboat station was first established at Sheerness in 1969, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[3]

The station currently operates 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce (ON 1345), a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2021.[4]

History

[edit]

In 1969, the RNLI placed two extra lifeboats on the Thames Estuary, following a decision by the RAF to withdraw the rescue helicopters from RAF Manston. An extra D-class lifeboat went to Southend-on-Sea, and it was decided to place an All-weather lifeboat at Sheerness on evaluation.[5]

The first lifeboat was a new design, a 41-foot lifeboat, moulded in GRP, and fitted out by Keith Nelson Ltd, of Bembridge, with twin diesel engines, producing 19kts. Subsequently called a Keith Nelson class lifeboat, she was the only one constructed. Numbered 40-001, she was named Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde (ON 1017) after a legacy from Mrs. Hinde.[6]

Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde (ON 1017) was on station from April to November 1969, but with a two month period away for repairs in July and August. For that time, Sheerness had a relief boat on station, a Waveney-class lifeboat 44-001. In late 1969, the Keith Nelson boat was transferred to Calshot for further evaluation, and Sheerness then received a 46ft Watson-class lifeboat, Canadian Pacific (ON 803), a boat already over 30 years old, and capable of just 8.5kts.[5]

In January 1970, following a successful appraisal, the RNLI decided to establish a permanent station at Sheerness. Canadian Pacific was replaced by another 46ft Watson-class lifeboat in April 1970, Gertrude (ON 847), already a 25 year old lifeboat, that had previously been stationed at Holy Island and Exmouth. Despite her age, she would be launched 103 times, and save 61 lives, over her 4 year term on station.[5]

The station received another Waveney-class lifeboat in 1974, but this time the brand new 44-009 Helen Turnbull (ON 1027), which served the station for the next 22 years.[7]

During her time on service, the Helen Turnbull would be launched four times, when medals for gallantry were later awarded. Coxswain Charles Henry Bowry was twice awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, for services in 1976 and 1979. On 19 March 1980, the Helen Turnbull (ON 1027) was launched at 18:16 into a strong gale, to the aid of the offshore radio station ship Mi Amigo, which had dragged her anchor, and been driven ashore on Long Sand Shoal. In poor conditions, the lifeboat stood by for three hours, until the ship refloated, but it pitched and rolled badly. Four survivors were taken off after 13 attempts by the lifeboat, the vessel sinking a short time later. Coxswain Charles Henry Bowry was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. A fourth medal (bronze), was awarded to Coxswain Robin Castle, for a service in 1987.[8]

In 1985, negotiations took place with the Medway Ports Authority, and the lifeboat was relocated to Gun Wharf Steps. New crew facilities were provided in 2000, and a new Pontoon berth was constructed in 2010.[3]

Trent-class lifeboat 14-13 George and Ivy Swanson (ON 1211), which had been placed on station in 1996, and served Sheerness for 25 years, was replaced in 2021, with the arrival of a new Shannon-class lifeboat 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce (ON 1345).[9]

Station honours

[edit]

The following are awards made at Sheerness[3][10]

Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1980
Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976
Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1979 (Second Service clasp)
Robin William Castle, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1987
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Malcolm E. Keen, crew member – 1974
The lifeboat crew – 1980
Richard Rogers, Helmsman – 1987
Brian Spoor, crew member – 1987
Dennis Bailey Jr., Second Coxswain – 1987
Richard Rogers, crew member – 1987
Robin William Castle, Coxswain – 2010NYH[11]
  • Freedom of the Borough of Swale
Robin Castle, Former Coxswain – 2021[12]

Sheerness lifeboats

[edit]

All-weather lifeboats

[edit]
ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name On Station[13] Class Comments
1017 40-001 Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde 1969 Keith Nelson Boat placed at Sheerness for evaluation prior to establishment of station
803 Canadian Pacific 1969–1970 46-foot Watson
847 Gertrude 1970–1974 46-foot Watson
1027 44-009 Helen Turnbull 1974–1996 Waveney
1211 14-13 George and Ivy Swanson 1996–2021 Trent
1345 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce 2021– Shannon Delivered 28 May 2021[14]

Inshore lifeboats

[edit]
Op. No.[b] Name On Station[15] Class Comments
D-145 Unnamed 1972–1976 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-253 Unnamed 1976–1988 D-class (Zodiac III)
D-362 Kensington Rescuer 1988–1996 D-class (EA16)
D-513 Seahorse I 1996–2006 D-class (EA16)
D-662 Eleanor 2006–2016 D-class (IB1)
D-799 Buster 2016– D-class (IB1) [16]
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ OS map 149: Sittingbourne & Faversham Isle of Sheppey. Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey. ISBN 9780319238684
  2. ^ Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Author: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: 1992, Patrick Stephens Ltd – Part of the Haynes Publishing Group.Work: Chapter 18 – The Lifeboat Stations – Part 2 The Kent Stations, Pages 161/162. ISBN 1852604190
  3. ^ a b c "Sheerness' station history". RNLI. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  4. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. p. 71.
  5. ^ a b c Morris, Jeff (September 1996). The History of the Sheerness Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
  6. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 58–59.
  7. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 60–61.
  8. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. pp. 355, 366, 370, 385. ISBN 0907605893.
  9. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 71.
  10. ^ Cox 1998, pp. 355, 366, 370, 385.
  11. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ Dunt, Paul (13 October 2021). "Former Sheerness RNLI Coxswain honoured with Freedom of the Borough". RNLI. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  13. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 48–71.
  14. ^ Dunt, Paul (10 October 2022). "Sheerness RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat named Judith Copping Joyce". RNLI. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  15. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 88–99.
  16. ^ Booth, Vic (25 April 2017). "New Sheerness RNLI lifeboat named in honour of a much loved family member". RNLI. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheerness_Lifeboat_Station&oldid=1284574236"