Lowestoft Lifeboat Station
Lowestoft Lifeboat Station.
Lowestoft Lifeboat Station is located in Suffolk
Lowestoft Lifeboat Station
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationLowestoft, Suffolk
CountryEngland
Coordinates52°28′18″N 1°45′11″E / 52.47167°N 1.75306°E / 52.47167; 1.75306
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Lowestoft Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) operated lifeboat station in the town of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The station is located at the mouth of Lowestoft's outer harbour on the South pier. It is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1801.[1]

History

The station was established in 1801, when a lifeboat built by Henry Greathead began operating from the town. In 1807 the station became the first to operate a sailing lifeboat, the Frances Anne, which operated until 1850 and saved over 300 lives.[1] The RNLI took control of the station in 1855.[1]

A second station operated in the town between 1870 and 1912, whilst the South Broads Lifeboat Station, an inshore station, operated at Oulton Broad between 2001 and 2011.[2]

Crews from Lowestoft have received 45 awards for gallantry, including 39 medals. The RNLI Gold Medal has been awarded twice. The first award was to Lieutenant R B Matthews RN in October 1827. Coxswain John Swan was the second recipient, for his actions during the rescue of the crew of the merchant ship SS Hopelyn, wrecked on North Scroby Sands in October 1922.[1] The lifeboat Michael Stephens took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.[1]

Fleet

RNLB Spirit of Lowestoft 47-020
ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name In service [3] Class Comments
22 Samuel Plimsoll 1875–1905 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
23 The Two Sisters
(Lowestoft No.2)		 1886–1890 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
288 Stock Exchange
(Lowestoft No.2)		 1890–1892 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
356 Stock Exchange
(Lowestoft No.2)		 1893–1912 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
543 Kentwell 1905–1921 Norfolk and Suffolk (P&S)
663 Agnes Cross 1921–1939 Norfolk and Suffolk (Motor) Previously John and Mary Meiklam Of Gladswood at Gorleston
838 Michael Stephens[4] 1939–1963 46ft Watson-class
970 Frederick Edward Crick 1963–1986 47ft Watson-class
924 Archibald and Alexandra M. Paterson[5] 1986–1987 52ft Barnett-class
1132 47-020 Spirit of Lowestoft 1987–2014 Tyne-class On Display at RNLI Collection, Chatham Historic Dockyard since June 2019
1312 13-05 Patsy Knight [6] 2014– Shannon-class
  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. 1 2 3 4 5 Lowestoft Lifeboat Station, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  2. ↑ RNLI closes South Broads lifeboat station at Oulton Broad, BBC news website, 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  3. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  4. ↑ "Michael Stephens". Assoc. Dunkirk Little Ships. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "ARCHIBALD & ALEXANDER M PATERSON". National Historic Ship Register. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Historic occasion is celebrated as Duke of Kent attends lifeboat naming ceremony in Lowestoft". The Lowestoft Journal. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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