Yorkshire

Easter Sunday had us visiting four lifeboat stations on the Yorkshire coast. We stayed in a very comfortable B&B in the middle of nowhere between Whitby and Scarborough overlooking the Yorkshire Moors. It was so peaceful and the food in the evening and breakfast was superb. Suitably fed we headed to our first stop of five, Scarborough.

Scarborough Lifeboat Station

The lifeboat Station lies at the north of Scarborough Beach adjacent to the harbour and overlooked by the castle. We parked up in the harbour carpark and headed to the impressive station. First job, take the evidence photo. There were several RNLI crew cars parked at the station so we entered the side door into the visitor area and was soon met by Jacob.

We were invited upstairs to the crew room where several of the crew welcomed us. After a cup of tea, Jacob showed us around the crew room and recalled some of the historical events and notable crew from the past. A new sight for us at a station – they had a fish tank. They looked fairly tropical so not the usual North Sea species.

Scarborough is one of the oldest stations still in operation having been founded in 1801. It was taken over by the RNLI in 1861 and shortly after a new boat arrived, called Amelia. Unfortunately, she was damaged beyond repair on her first service with the loss of three lifeboatmen and five crew of the schooner, Coupland. A new lifeboat station was built in its current location in 1940. Further tragedy in 1954 when lifeboat E.C.J.R. capsized with the loss of three crew. In 1958, the station received its first self-righting Oakley class lifeboat.

The present lifeboat station was built in 2015-16 along with a slipway and welcomed a Shannon Class boat funded by the F.W. Plaxton Charitable Trust and called Frederick William Plaxton (13-15). Due to maintenance being carried out on their SLARS, the lifeboat was moored in the harbour. They also have a D-Class, John Wesley Hillard IV (D-856), the fourth ILB funded by the Gay and Peter Hartley’s Hillards Charitable Trust.

After a photo will all of the crew we headed back to the car and on to our next visit. We are so grateful to Jacob and all of the crew members that gave up their Easter Sunday morning to welcome us to the station. Another fantastic visit.

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Filey Lifeboat Station

A short drive down the coast lies the town of Filey. The lifeboat station, established in 1804, lies on a promenade overlooking the sandy bay and the rocky Filey Brigg.

We were met in the shop by Caroline and Tina. Caroline is the Chair of the Ladies Guild and welcomed us up to the crew room for a cup of tea and biscuits. We chatted about her role in fundraising and many other topics around the station.

The RNLI took over the station, at the request of the community, in 1853. The stone lifeboat station, situated a little further south than its current position, was repaired and served until 1889 when a new boathouse was built where it now stands. It saw various alterations over the years to accommodate different classes of lifeboat until a rebuild in 1991 to house a Mersey Class. This boat, called Keep Fit Association was replaced by an Atlantic 85 in 2021. The station is still quite cramped and planning permission and funds have been acquired to extend the boathouse to allow for the launch tractor and Atlantic 85 to be coupled permanently in preparation for launch. The Atlantic 85 is Marjorie Shepherd (B-928) and the D-Class is Rotarian (D-859) both joining the station in 2021.

The station is in a very busy location and the little shop was very busy with holiday makers enjoying the Easter Sunday sunshine. We took some photos with the ladies and said our goodbyes before heading to our third visit of the day. Thank you Caroline and Tina for your very warm welcome.

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Flamborough Lifeboat Station

Nestled on the southern side of the imposing Flamborough Head, lies Flamborough Lifeboat Station. We parked in the carpark at the top of the steep hill and walked down to the station. It was a fundraising cake day so we bought a cake the day before and offered it to the station to sell. It was a warm day and the little beach in the bay was busy as was the lifeboat station.

Their Atlantic 85 was out on the slipway ready to launch and for people to admire. The boat house was busy with visitors and cakes. There was also a very accurate model of the station on display which had just be presented to the station a few days earlier.

Flamborough Lifeboat was established by the RNLI in 1871, along with a second station located on the north side of Flamborough head. This northern station was closed in 1993, although the boathouse remains, and a new boathouse built in its current location to accommodate the Atlantic Class inshore boats.

Their current Atlantic 85 is Elizabeth Jane Palmer (B-820) and entered service in 2007.

We had a lovely chat with the ladies who were helping with the cake sale and took some photos. Unfortunately, whilst looking around the lifeboat, Helen tripped on a kerb on the slipway and took a tumble. She got away with a sore ankle a grazed elbow and a dented pride.

At the top of the hill was a café so we took our  time and had some refreshments before heading to our penultimate visit of the day.

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Bridlington Lifeboat Station

The town of Bridlington is just a short drive around the coast from Flamborough. The large white  station sits proudly on the promenade. We were given permission to park outside of the station and so gingerly made our way through the crowds to a parking space.

We were met at the station by Bren and Jules, volunteer Water Safety Advisors and fundraisers. They kindly gave us a tour of the impressive station. Established in 1805, the RNLI took over the station in 1853 and a new station was built in 1864. Another new station was built in 1903 followed by the current building in 2017. This new boathouse was erected to accommodate the Shannon Class lifeboat and the inshore D-Class. The Shannon is called Anthony Patrick Jones (13-22). The D-Class, Dorothy and Katherine Barr III (D-887) is a relief boat whilst their own Ernie Wellings (D-852) is away for some routine maintenance.

We stopped by the shop and bought a pin badge and then headed to our final visit of a busy day.

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Withernsea Lifeboat Station

About an hour south of Bridlington is the seaside town of Withernsea. It was busy with holidaymakers and we managed to find a free roadside parking space in town. The Lifeboat Station was a short walk along the promenade above Mermaids Beach.

The station was locked up when we arrived and so we took our evidence photo and sat for a while as we were a little earlier than our scheduled time. We were shortly met by Helm, John and his wife, who noticed us arrive and came out to meet us. He very kindly showed us around the station and we chatted for a while in the boathouse.

Earlier in the day they had the opportunity to go on exercise with the coastguard rescue helicopter. We were joined at the station by new crew member Kayden and we learnt about his journey so far with the Station.

The station was first established in 1862 to help shipping use the Humber River. The station was closed in 1913 and the lifeboat moved a few miles south. In 1974 an Inshore lifeboat station opened and replaced with the existing boathouse in 1998. On station is their D-Class Mary Beal (D-837) and her launch tractor.

Thank you to John, his wife and Kayden for taking time out of their busy Easter Sunday to come and meet us. With that busy day of visits done, we headed across the Humber to our B&B before heading out for a lovely Indian meal with some friends.