Redcar Lifeboat Station

{{Short description|Lifeboat station in North Yorkshire, England}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Redcar Lifeboat Station

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| logo = Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg

| logo_size = 100px

| logo_caption =

| image = Lifeboat Station - Esplanade (geograph 5478366).jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = Redcar Lifeboat Station

| map_type = North Yorkshire

| pushpin_relief = 1

| map_image =

| map_caption = Location within North Yorkshire

| location =

| address = 43 Esplanade

| location_city = Redcar, North Yorkshire, TS10 3AG

| location_country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|54.6185|-1.0637|display=inline,title}}

| former_names =

| alternate_names =

| etymology =

| status =

| cancelled =

| topped_out =

| building_type = RNLI Lifeboat Station

| architectural_style =

| est_completion =

| opened_date = 1802

| owner = File:Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution

| affiliation =

| website = [https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/redcar-lifeboat-station Redcar RNLI Lifeboat Station]

}}

Redcar Lifeboat Station is located on the Promenade at Redcar, a town on the northern coast of Yorkshire, historically North Yorkshire, now Redcar and Cleveland.

A lifeboat was first placed at Redcar in 1802. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1858.{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025 |date=2025 |publisher=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society |page=116}}

The station currently operated two Inshore Lifeboats (ILB); the {{Lbc|B|Atlantic 85}} Leicester Challenge III (B-858), on station since 2012, and the smaller {{Lbc|D|IB1}} Eileen May Loach-Thomas (D-786), on station since 2015.{{sfn|Leonard |Denton |2025 |p=127}}

History

A lifeboat, operated by local fisherman, first operated from the town in 1802.Some sources claim the boat was built in 1800 and was first active at Spurn Point ({{Lbs|Humber}}) before being sent to Redcar in 1802. Humber Lifeboat Station is listed as being in use by 1810, but most sources claim it was sent direct from Henry Greathead to Redcar.{{sfn|Cockcroft|1985|p=26}} It was constructed by Henry Greathead, and at the time Redcar was just a small fishing hamlet consisting of two rows of terraced houses.{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=15}} The lifeboat was named Zetland and served the area and the Teesbay Lifeboat and Shipwreck Society until 1859 when the RNLI took over.{{sfn|Dibdin & Ayling|1894|p=88}} Under the auspices of the RNLI, it served for six more years before being damaged and scheduled to be broken up. However, the local population arranged for the boat to be kept, which the RNLI agreed to on condition that it not be used in competition with their replacement boat, Crossley.{{cite web |title=Name Zetland {{!}} National Historic Ships |url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/627/zetland |website=www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk |accessdate=16 February 2019}} The Crossley itself only lasted three years on the station; its self-righting buoyancy airboxes made the lifeboat too small and so the Burton-on-Trent was brought to the station in 1867.

In the early days of the lifeboat station, before it was taken over by the RNLI, a drummer boy would alert the lifeboat crew to a launch by playing Come Along, Brave Boys, Come Along.{{cite book|last1=Chrystal|first1=Paul|title=The Place Names of Yorkshire; Cities, Towns, Villages, Rivers and Dales, some Pubs too, in Praise of Yorkshire Ales|date=2017|publisher=Stenlake|location=Catrine|isbn=9781840337532|page=67|edition=1}} The lifeboat station itself was supplied by Lord Zetland, and the modern day (1970s) lifeboat station is located on this site too.{{sfn|Cockcroft|1985|p=26}}

A former lifeboat house was built in 1877 to house the lifeboat Emma and is now grade II listed.{{NHLE|desc=Zetland Lifeboat Museum and Redcar Heritage Centre, and attached wall|num=1329601|grade=II|accessdate=13 February 2019}} In 1936 the RNLI purchased the building and it is now the lifeboat museum and houses Zetland, the world's oldest surviving lifeboat.{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=109}} Emma was named after Emma Dawson and was a gift to the townspeople by local benefactors, but Emma and her lifeboat station were completely outwith the responsibilities of the RNLI, being purely a local concern with money and support also being provided by the Order of Free Gardeners.{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=109}}{{sfn|Dibdin & Ayling|1894|p=127}}

In 1910, the RNLI built a new lifeboat house on the promenade to house their boat (Fifi and Charles), the Emma having fallen into disrepair a decade earlier.{{sfn|Leach|2018|pp=108–109}} This building was in turn demolished in the early 1970s after a new lifeboat station was constructed nextdoor.{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=110}} In 1970, the County Borough of Teesside Council built a new lifeboat station for the RNLI on the seafront at Redcar.{{cite web |title=Redcar Lifeboat Station |url=https://www.nia-uk.org/media/1171/redcar-lifeboat-station-commercial-nsc5-9891.pdf |website=www.nia-uk.org |publisher=Hanson |accessdate=17 February 2019 |page=1 }} In 2014 the exterior of the lifeboat station was refurbished.{{cite news |title=Hundreds witness sea rescue display |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-28285386 |accessdate=17 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=13 July 2014}}

Notable incidents

File:Redcar Lifeboat - geograph.org.uk - 191442.jpg

7 September 1826 - A whaling ship, the Esk, returning to her home port of Whitby, was stranded on the rocks just outside Marske-by-the-Sea. The Redcar Lifeboat attended the wreck, but only three out of a crew of twenty-nine were saved.{{cite web |title=SHIP WRECKS |url=http://www.redcar.org/ship-wrecks/ |website=Redcar.org |accessdate=21 October 2019}}{{PastScape |num=937642|desc=Esk |access-date=21 October 2019}}
25 December 1836 - The Zetland was launched on Christmas Day to help a Dutch collier (Caroline) as she was foundering in heavy seas. One of the crew members was washed overboard whilst trying to throw a line to one of the Caroline's lifeboats. Neither the crewman nor the ten crew of the collier Caroline survived. The death of the lifeboat crewman remains the only death of a crewmember to have occurred at Redcar Lifeboat Station (though other deaths associated with launching have occurred [see below]).{{cite news |title=Remembering crewman's death |url=https://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/whats-on/arts/remembering-crewman-s-death-1-4101429 |accessdate=17 February 2019 |work=The Whitby Gazette |date=1 January 2012}}Three fishermen, E, J & R Picknett died whilst trying to rescue the crew of the steamship Honoria in 1901. Their names are annotated on the RNLI memorial in Poole, Dorset.{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Dave |title=Search for relatives of Redcar lifeboat heroine |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/search-relatives-redcar-lifeboat-heroine-3721588 |accessdate=7 March 2019 |work=Gazette Live |date=20 May 2009}}{{cite web |title=Station history {{!}} RNLI |url=https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/redcar-lifeboat-station/station-history-redcar |website=rnli.org |accessdate=7 March 2019}}{{sfn|Cockcroft|1985|p=84}}
29 October 1880 - The Zetland was brought out of retirement to rescue the crew of the brig, Luna, after all other lifeboats were out of action due to having also rescued stricken crews on the same day. Zetland rescued the seven men from the Luna.{{cite web |title=1880: The Zetland's final launch - Timeline - Our history - RNLI |url=https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/timeline/1880-zetlands-final-launch |website=rnli.org |accessdate=17 February 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Methley |first1=Noel |title=The Life-Boat and its Story |date=2015 |publisher=Maritime Press |location=Bremen |isbn=9783954272358 |page=132}}
18–22 October 1898 - The Finnish Barque, Birger. The Birger had been sailing from Barcelona to Finland carrying a consignment of salt. When she was approaching the coast of Norway, a fierce storm struck the North Sea which was to last five days. The south-easterly winds blew her towards Britain and her captain tried to make port first at Grimsby, but when this proved difficult, a decision was made to head for Newcastle. As she passed up alongside the Yorkshire Coast, the lifeboats and rockets were prepared at {{Lbs|Scarborough}}, {{Lbs|Robin Hood's Bay}}, {{Lbs|Whitby}}, {{Lbs|Runswick}} and at {{Lbs|Saltburn}}. Each time the stricken vessel passed by without being able to make port.{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Gary |editor1-last=Anderson |editor1-first=Maureen |title=Aspects of Teesside : discovering local history |date=2002 |publisher=Wharncliffe Books |location=Barnsley |isbn=1-903425-19-0 |pages=51–56 |chapter=4. The Wreck of the Birger; a True Story of Heroism and Great Tragedy}} By the time of her arrival in Redcar (22 October), she was struggling against the storm and taking on significant amounts of water. She was wrecked on the rocks outside of Redcar and both lifeboats, Brothers and Emma, were launched to help rescue the men. The lifeboat crews could not find anybody and the Birger's sails collapsed into the boat. Three men made it to the pier at Coatham, and of those only one survived the waves and was hauled up onto the pier by the locals who had been watching the rescue. Another man was washed ashore; 13 other sailors drowned. The wreck of the ship then cut Coatham Pier in half.{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Chris |title=End of the pier story |work=Darlington & Stockton Times |issue=42–2016 |date=19 October 2018 |page=37|issn=2516-5348}}{{sfn|Cockcroft|1985|p=80}}
27 December 1906 - The Japanese liner Awa Maru became stuck on a reef outside Redcar (known as Westcar). The lifeboat Brothers was launched and had a successful initial rescue, but on a second try, the lifeboat had its back broken on the rocks. Despite this, they tried again only for the lifeboat's carriage to become embedded in the soft sand. The remainder of the crew of the Awa Maru managed to get ashore in their own lifeboats later. The ship had to be blasted away from the rocks, but she was successfully re-floated.
21 January 1921 - The Redcar Lifeboat Fifi and Charles was sent out to effect a rescue of a Greek collier ship (Aphrodite) that had run aground just to the east of Redcar. Usually, the lifeboat was launched by horses but none were available, so a contingent of humans (mostly women) wheeled the boat down to the shoreline. One of the women undertaking this was crushed to death under the wheels of the trailer carrying the boat.{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Dave |title=Tribute to our sea heroes: Memorial honour for those who gave their lives Lifeboats |work=Middlesbrough Evening Gazette |date=10 January 2009|id={{ProQuest|351273466}} }} This led to the construction of a slipway onto the beach opposite the lifeboathouse.{{sfn|Chrystal|2012|p=29}}

Station honours

The following are awards made at Redcar{{cite web |title=Redcar's station history |url=https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/redcar-lifeboat-station/station-history-redcar |publisher=RNLI |access-date=3 February 2024}}{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Barry |title=Lifeboat Gallantry |date=1998 |publisher=Spink & Son Ltd |isbn=0907605893}}

RNIPLS Gold Medal

::Lt. Richard Elsworthy Pym, RN – 1829

RNLI Silver Medal

::Robert Shieldon, Coxswain – 1857

RNLI Bronze Medal

::Peter Hodge, Helm – 1992

The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award 2003
{{small|(for the outstanding inshore lifeboat rescue of the year)}}

::Mark Reeves, Helm – 2004

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

::Rodney J Thompson, Helm – 1990

::Peter Hodge, crew member – 1990

::Barry Wheater, crew member – 1992

::Mark Reeves, crew member – 1992

::Derek Robinson, crew member – 1992

::Mark Reeves, Helm – 2004

::Michael Picknett, Helm – 2012

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

::Michael Picknett, Helm – 1995

::Michael Hoyle, crew member – 1995

::Barry Knaggs, crew member – 1995

::Gordon Young, crew member – 1995

::Mark Reeves, Helm – 1999

::Tony Wild, crew member – 1999

::Derek Robinson, crew member – 1999

::Mark Reeves, crew member – 2012

::Barry Knaggs, crew member – 2012

Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

::Vera Robinson – 1971{{cite web |title=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45384/supplement/5972 |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=3 February 2024}}

British Empire Medal

::Michael Picknett – 2013{{cite web |title=British Empire Medal (Civil Division) |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60367/supplement/32 |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=10 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=Redcar lifeboat rescuer Mike Picknett receives BEM |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-20858606 |access-date=3 February 2024 |publisher=BBC |date=29 December 2012}}

Redcar lifeboats

= All-weather lifeboats =

class="wikitable"

! ON{{efn|ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.}}

! Op. No.{{efn|name=Op|Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.}}

! Name

! {{nowrap|On Station}}{{sfn|Leonard|Denton|2025|pp=2–57}}

! Class

! Comments

Pre-017

| –

| Zetland

| {{nowrap|1802–1880}}

| {{Lbb|Greathead}}

| The world's oldest surviving lifeboat, Zetland, which was named after the Marquess of Zetland, saved 500 lives. She is now preserved in the Redcar lifeboat museum{{cite book |last1=Winn |first1=Christopher |title=I never knew that about Yorkshire |date=2010 |publisher=Ebury |location=London |isbn=978-0-09-193313-5 |page=74}}

| –

| Crossley

| 1864–1867

| {{nowrap|33-foot Self-righting (P&S)}}

| The boat was deemed to be too small due to the addition of boxes with buoyancy to aid self-righting and was transferred to {{Lbs|Middlesbrough}}{{sfn|Dibdin & Ayling|1894|p=90}}

Pre-507

| –

| Burton-on-Trent

| 1867–1884

| 36-foot Self-righting (P&S)

| {{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Chris |title=Looking back: Not plain sailing for Redcar's newest lifeboat |url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/lookingback/15383674.looking-back-not-plain-sailing-for-redcars-newest-lifeboat/ |accessdate=16 February 2019 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |date=7 July 2017}}

| –

| The Brothers

| 1884–1907

| 34-foot 2in Self-righting (P&S)

| Damaged whilst attempting to rescue the crew of the Awa Maru in December 1906.{{sfn|Dibdin & Ayling|1894|p=91}}{{cite news |last1=Burbage |first1=Claire |title=Redcar's last big rescue |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1090626.redcars-last-big-rescue/ |accessdate=22 February 2019 |work=The Northern Echo |date=27 December 2006}}

577

| –

| Fifi and Charles

| 1907–1931

| 35-foot Self-righting (P&S)

737

| –

| Louisa Polden

| 1931–1951

| {{Lbb|35ft 6in Self-righting motor}}

| The first motorboat to serve at Redcar{{cite web |title=History – The Motor Lifeboats – Redcar RNLI |url=http://www.redcarlifeboat.org.uk/index.php/history-the-early-years/history-the-motor-lifeboats/ |website=redcarlifeboat.org.uk |accessdate=16 February 2019}}

881

| –

| City of Leeds

| 1951–1965

| {{Lbb|35ft 6in Self-righting motor}}

892

| –

| Aguila Wren

| 1965–1972

| {{Lbb|Liverpool}}

| {{cite web |title=Name Aguila Wren {{!}} National Historic Ships |url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2242/aguila-wren |website=www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk |accessdate=25 February 2019}}

975

| {{nowrap|37-08}}

| {{nowrap|Sir James Knott}}

| 1972–1986

| {{Lbb|Oakley}}

| The last All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) to serve at Redcar. The ALB coverage was supplied by neighbouring {{Lbs|Teesmouth}} station and the Redcar Station became host to two Inshore Lifeboats (ILBs).

:All-weather lifeboat withdrawn, 1986

= Inshore lifeboats =

== D-Class ==

class="wikitable"

! Op. No.{{efn|name=Op}}

! Name

! {{nowrap|On Station}}{{sfn|Leonard|Denton|2025|pp=86–99}}

! Class

! Comments

D-5

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1963

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-6

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1963

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-31

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| {{nowrap|1964–1965}}

| {{nowrap|{{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}}}

D-12

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1965

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-37

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1966

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-12

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1967

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-136

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1967–1978

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-267

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1979–1988

| {{Lbc|D|RFD PB16}}

D-373

| {{small|Unnamed}}

| 1988–1997

| {{Lbc|D|EA16}}

D-523

| Peterborough Beer Festival I

| 1997–2007

| {{Lbc|D|EA16}}

D-660

| City of Leeds II

| 2006

| {{Lbc|D|IB1}}

| {{cite news |title=RNLI Lifeboat is named after city |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/5110718.stm |accessdate=21 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=24 June 2006}} Stationed at Redcar as part of the relief fleet

D-511

| Margaret

| 2007

| {{Lbc|D|EA16}}

D-516

| Spirit of the Exe

| 2007

| {{Lbc|D|EA16}}

D-677

| Jacky Hunsley

| 2007–2014

| {{Lbc|D|IB1}}

| {{cite news |title=Lifeboat named after crash victim |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/7356475.stm |accessdate=4 March 2019 |work=BBC News |date=19 April 2008}}{{sfn|Chrystal|2012|p=30}}

| Eileen May Loach-Thomas

| 2015–

| {{Lbc|D|IB1}}

|{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=108}}

== B-Class ==

class="wikitable"

! Op. No.{{efn|name=Op}}

! Name

! {{nowrap|On Station}}{{sfn|Leonard|Denton|2025|pp=80–84}}

! Class

! Comments

| Wildenrath Whizzer

| {{nowrap|1986–1990}}

| {{nowrap|{{Lbb|Atlantic 21}}}}

B-580

| Leicester Challenge

| 1990–2001

| {{Lbb|Atlantic 21}}

B-777

| Leicester Challenge II

| 2001–2012

| {{Lbb|Atlantic 75}}

| {{cite news |title=RNLI sets sail in £180k lifeboat |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17550075 |accessdate=16 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=30 March 2012}}

B-858

| Leicester Challenge III

| 2012–

| {{Lbb|Atlantic 85}}

|{{sfn|Leach|2018|p=108}}

=Launch and recovery tractors=

class="wikitable"

! Op. No.{{efn|name=Op}}

! Reg. No.

! Type,

! {{nowrap|On Station}}{{sfn|Leonard|Denton|2025|pp=103–109}}

! Comments

T18

| PY 7589

| Clayton

| 1927–1931

| MA 6793

| Clayton

| 1931–1938

T29

| FGC 64

| Case L

| 1938–1957

T33

| FYP 356

| Case L

| 1957–1960

T52

| KXT 420

| Case LA

| 1960–1964

T46

| KGP 1

| Case LA

| 1964–1969

T71

| 519 GYM

| Case 1000D

| 1969–1971

T78

| BYN 568B

| Case 1000D

| 1971–1981

T76

| BGO 680B

| Case 1000D

| 1981–1986

TW11

| B251 HUX

| Talus MB-764 County

| 1986–1987

TW15

| E592 WNT

| Talus MB-764 County

| 1987–1991

TW19Hc

| J120 VNT

| Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2)

| 1991–1995

TW18Hb

| H710 RUX

| Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)

| 1995–2003

TW17Hb

| H593 PUX

| Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)

| 2003–2010

TW50Hb

| W419 UUJ

| Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5)

| 2010–

:{{Small|Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.}}

Notes

References

=Sources=

{{cite book|last=Chrystal|first=Paul|title=Lifeboat Stations of North East England; From Sunderland to The Humber, Through Time|year=2012|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-4456-1376-5}}
{{cite book|last=Cockcroft|first=Janet|title=Redcar and Coatham: a history to the end of World War II|year=1985|publisher=Sotheran|location=Redcar|edition=3|isbn=0-905032-16-0}}
{{cite book|last1=Dibdin|first1=James|last2=Ayling|first2=John|title=The book of the lifeboat : with a complete history of the Lifeboat Saturday movement |url=https://archive.org/details/booklifeboatwit01ayligoog|year=1894|publisher=O. Anderson & Ferrier|location=Edinburgh|oclc=4271825|ref={{Harvid|Dibdin & Ayling|1894}} }}
{{cite book|last=Leach|first=Nicholas|title=The Lifeboat Service in England; the North East Coast, Station by Station|year=2018|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-4456-6832-1}}
{{cite book|last=Philo|first=Phil|title=Redcar: A Pictorial History|year=1993|publisher=Phillimore|location=Chichester|isbn=0-85033-864-6}}