Portsmouth Lifeboat Station

In 1886, the RNLI established a lifeboat station at Southsea. The location was considered to be an ideal position "whence a Life-boat can proceed, either under sail or in tow of the Admiralty or other steam-tugs, to shipwrecks along that coast and round the eastern approaches to Spithead."{{cite journal |title=Additional Stations and New Life-Boats |journal=The Lifeboat |date=1 November 1886 |volume=XIII |issue=142 |pages=194–195 |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/13/142/additional-stations-and-new-life-boats |access-date=10 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Portsmouth Local History |url=https://nebula.wsimg.com/a2e4f5d6883eca501f5139e57e9e07a7?AccessKeyId=20CFA221129C87483CFE&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 |access-date=11 November 2024}}

The Heyland (ON 34), a 37-foot 12-oared 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, built in 1882, was placed at Southsea. The Southsea station was closed in 1918 when the RNLI decided that the area was adequately covered by the stations at {{Lbs|Hayling Island}} and {{Lbs|Bembridge}}.{{cite journal |title=Portsmouth and Southsea |journal=The Lifeboat |date=February 1920 |volume=XXIV |issue=268 |pages=24–25 |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/24/268/news-from-the-branches |access-date=11 November 2024}}

For further information, please see:

• Southsea Lifeboat Station

In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.{{cite journal |title=Inshore Rescue Boats |journal=The Lifeboat |date=March 1964 |volume=XXXVIII |issue=407 |page=3 |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/38/407/notes-of-the-quarter |access-date=11 November 2024}}

More stations were opened, and in May 1965, a lifeboat station was re-established on Portsea Island. {{nowrap|Eastney Lifeboat Station}} opened with the arrival of a {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}} Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-48).

A boathouse was constructed at Eastney Point, facing Langstone Harbour. The first Inshore lifeboat (D-48) was paid for by funds raised by Hemel Hempstead Round Table. By 1967 the station was also operating a rigid hull inshore lifeboat, with the craft being kept at permanent anchor in the harbour at Eastney.{{cite book |last1=Leach |first1=Nicholas |title=For Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station |date=1999 |publisher=Silver Link Publishing Ltd |isbn=1857941292 |page=77 |edition=First Issue}}

At 03:15 on 7 September 1974, Eastney lifeboat station was alerted by Shoreham Coastguard. to red flares sighted in Langstone channel. The Inshore lifeboat D-184 was launched at 03:43, into a SSW force 9 gale. Arriving on scene 13 minutes later at 03:59, they found a man and boy, lashed both together, and to their boat, the motor cruiser Valon. With great skill in difficult conditions, the lifeboat was brought alongside, and both man and boy were recovered to the lifeboat. The return trip took twice as long as the outward trip due to the conditions, after which both casualties to transferred to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. For this service, all three lifeboat crew were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, crew member Dennis Faro receiving a second-service clasp to his previously won bronze medal.{{cite journal |title=Father and son |journal=The Lifeboat |date=Spring 1975 |volume=XLIII |issue=451 |page=278 |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/43/451/a-boat |access-date=11 November 2024}}

In 1975 a new {{Lbc|B|Atlantic 21}}, Guide Friendship II (B-530) was placed on service, replacing the {{Lbc|A|McLachlan}} (A-505). A new boathouse was constructed to house both the B-class and D-class lifeboats. In 1978, the station name was formally changed to Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour) Lifeboat Station.

The boat house was re-developed in 1991, at a cost of £90,000, and was officially opened on 27 October. Crew were provided with a changing/kit drying room, new toilet and shower facilities and a first aid reception room. Also within the building there is a workshop, training and briefing room, and a station office. In 1995, the station name was changed once again, becoming Portsmouth Lifeboat Station. An extension to the boathouse was completed in 2002.

In 2009, the {{Lbc|D|EA16}} lifeboat Heyland II (D-554) was replaced by a new {{Lbc|D|IB1}} lifeboat. It was named Brian's Pride (D-716), funded by longtime lifeboat fundraisers Brian and Marilyn Bass. The boat served for 11 years, and during that time launched 341 times, aided 250 people, and saved 26 lives.{{cite news |last1=Dunt |first1=Paul |title=Portsmouth RNLI pays tribute to amazing benefactor |url=https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/october/31/portsmouth-rnli-pays-tribute-to-amazing-benefactor |access-date=11 November 2024 |publisher=RNLI |date=31 October 2022}}

The current {{Lbc|B|Atlantic 85}} lifeboat, Norma T (B-846), was placed on service in 2010, provided by the donation of Bob and Norma Thomas.

In 2020, Brian's Pride (D-716) was replaced by The Dennis Faro (D-850), The boat was named in honour of the late former helm of Portsmouth lifeboat, Dennis Faro, twice awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for gallantry, who died in 2006 age 80.

The following are awards made at Portsmouth{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Barry |title=Lifeboat Gallantry |date=1998 |publisher=Spink & Son Ltd |isbn=0907605893}}

• RNLI Bronze Medal

::Dennis Faro, Helm - 1973

::Sydney Thayers, Helm - 1974

::William Hawkins, crew member - 1974

::Dennis Faro, crew member - 1974 (Second-Service Clasp)

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

::Dr I T McLachlan - 1965

::D Cook-Radmore - 1965

::S Thayers - 1965

::Robert John Faro - 1967

::Roy Richards - 1967

::Dr I T McLachlan - 1970

::P Bannister - 1970

::R B Needle - 1970

::R B Needle - 1970

::John Fletcher, Helm - 1972

::Martin Icke, Helm - 1989

::Paul Venton, crew member - 1989

::Adrian West, crew member - 1989

::Martin Icke, Helm - 1996

::Paul Clark, crew member - 2005

::Tobi O’Neill, crew member - 2005

• Vellum Service Certificate

::Francis T Hawkins, crew member - 1972

::Graham Jewell, crew member - 1972

• A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

::Stephen Alexander, Helmsman - 1988

::Adrian West, crew member - 1988

::Paul Venton, crew member - 1988

::James Beach, crew member - 1988

::John Brooks, Helm - 2005

• A Letter of appreciation

::Lifeboat Crew - 1966

{{notelist}}

{{Geographic Location

|title = Neighbouring Stations to Portsmouth

|Northwest = Hampshire

|North = Hampshire

|Northeast = Hampshire

|West = Gosport and Fareham Lifeboat Station

|Centre = Portsmouth Lifeboat Station
x20px

|East = Hayling Island Lifeboat Station
x20px

|Southwest = Ryde Lifeboat Station

|South = Bembridge Lifeboat Station
x20px

|Southeast = Solent

}}

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portsmouth Lifeboat Station}}

Category:Lifeboat stations in Hampshire

Category:Portsmouth