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Whitstable Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 51°21′44.5″N 1°1′32″E / 51.362361°N 1.02556°E / 51.362361; 1.02556
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Whitstable Lifeboat Station
Whitstable Lifeboat Station.
Whitstable Lifeboat Station is located in Kent
Whitstable Lifeboat Station
Whitstable, Kent
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationWhitstable Lifeboat Station
AddressThe Harbour,
Town or cityWhitstable, Kent, CT5 1AB
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°21′44.5″N 1°1′32″E / 51.362361°N 1.02556°E / 51.362361; 1.02556
Opened1963
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Technical details
MaterialFabricated steelwork clad
with timber, and concrete
Website
Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat Station

Whitstable Lifeboat Station is located at Whitstable, a town overlooking the eastern end of The Swale, a tidal channel of the Thames estuary (that separates the Isle of Sheppey), sitting on the north coast of Kent.[1]

A lifeboat station was first established at Whitstable by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1963.[2]

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Lewisco (B-877), on station since 2014.[3]

History

[edit]

In 1962, the number of rescues or attempted rescues by All-weather lifeboats in the summer months was 98, with the number of lives rescued being 133. In 1963, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI began trials of small fast Inshore lifeboats, placed at various locations around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. This quickly proved to be very successful. In 1963, there were 226 rescues or attempted rescues in the summer months, as a result of which 225 lives were saved.[4]

One of the first places chosen for a new Inshore lifeboats was Whitstable, in Kent. A new station was established in July 1963, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, which was kept at East Quay. At the time, D-class Inshore lifeboats were placed on station just for the summer season, and many boats were moved around to different stations. Whitstable are recorded as having six different D-class Inshore lifeboats between 1963 and 1974.[5][6]

In 1974, the smaller D-class was withdrawn, and replaced with the larger twin-engined RIB, the B-class (Atlantic 21) Whitstable Branch (B-516).[5][7]

Boathouse accommodation has been improved over the years. A single storey extension was added to the side of the boathouse in 1989, to improve crew facilities. In 2000, a completely new station was constructed, to provide new crew facilities, and house the larger B-class (Atlantic 75) Oxford Town & Gown (B-764).[5]

A number of awards have been made to Whitstable crew members. Between 1977 and 2010, the The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded three times, for service in 1977, 1981 and 1986. It was awarded again in 2010, along with the Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award for the most meritorious rescue by an Inshore lifeboat crew in 2009.[5]

On 28 May 2000, the Whitstable lifeboat was launched into a force 8/9 gale and rough seas, to the aid of the fishing dory Angelina. Three crew were saved from the sinking boat. Helm David Parry was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.[8]

The Dan Davies Competition for first aid and seamanship skills is held annually, in memory of Whitstable general practitioner Dan Davies, who served as medical officer to the lifeboat station.[9][10]

In 2023, Whitstable Lifeboat Station celebrated its 60th anniversary.[11]

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Whitstable.[5]

David Parry, Helm – 2000[8]
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
David Victor Foreman, Helm – 1977
Michael A. Judge, Helm – 1981
Michael Gambrill, Helm – 1986
Jonathon Carter – 2010
  • The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award 2009
    (for the outstanding inshore lifeboat rescue of the year)
Jonathon Carter – 2010
Michael Judge, crew member – 2001QBH[12]
David Andrew Lamberton, Former Helm, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2003NYH[13]

Whitstable lifeboats

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D-class

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Op. No.[a] Name On Station[14] Class Comments
D-2 Unnamed 1963–1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-24 Unnamed 1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-28 Unnamed 1965 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-45 Unnamed 1965–1968 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-49 Unnamed 1968–1969 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-45 Unnamed 1969–1970 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-182 Unnamed 1970–1974 D-class (RFD PB16)

B-class

[edit]
Op. No.[a] Name On Station[15] Class Comments
B-516 Whitstable Branch 1974–1984 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-560 British Diver 1984–2000 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-764 Oxford Town & Gown 2000–2014 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-877 Lewisco 2014– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

[edit]
Op. No.[a] Reg. No. Type On Station[16] Comments
T54 MJT 722P Case LA 1975–1977
TW04 TEL 705R Talus MB-764 County 1977–1994
TW32 L161 LAW Talus MB-764 County 1994–2000
TW49Hb W652 RNT Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) 2000–2008
TW59Hc DU04 DVW Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2008–2014
TW23Hc K805 CUX Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2014–
  1. ^ a b c Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
[edit]
  • Whitstable Lifeboat Station
  • Oxford Town and Gown Atlantic 75-class lifeboat
    Oxford Town and Gown Atlantic 75-class lifeboat
  • Oxford Town and Gown Atlantic 75-class lifeboat, just after launch
    Oxford Town and Gown Atlantic 75-class lifeboat, just after launch
  • Oxford Town and Gown inside Whitstable boathouse
    Oxford Town and Gown inside Whitstable boathouse
  • Oxford Town and Gown on her launch cradel inside Whitstable boathouse
    Oxford Town and Gown on her launch cradel inside Whitstable boathouse

See also

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References

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  1. ^ OS Explorer Map 150 – Canterbury & the Isle of Thanet.Published: Ordnance Survey – Southampton. ISBN 9780319235188.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 117.
  3. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 128.
  4. ^ "New Developments" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XXXVII (406): 553. December 1963. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Whitstable's station history". Whitstable Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  6. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 86–88.
  7. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 80.
  8. ^ a b "Journal". The Lifesaving Awards Research Society (110): 65. August 2024.
  9. ^ Lifeboat, Whitstable (26 June 2017). "Whitstable lifeboat crews in test of seamanship and first aid skills". Whitstable Lifeboat Station. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Obituary; D. O. Davies". British Medical Journal. 1 (6070): 1222–1223. 7 May 1977. ISSN 0007-1447. PMC 1606865.
  11. ^ "Double Celebration at Whitstable RNLI". RNLI. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  14. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 86–89.
  15. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 80–84.
  16. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 104, 107–109.
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