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Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 50°56′18.5″N 0°45′50.9″E / 50.938472°N 0.764139°E / 50.938472; 0.764139
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Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station
Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station
Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station is located in East Sussex
Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station
Rye Harbour, East Sussex
Former namesWinchelsea Lifeboat Station
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressHarbour Road
Town or cityRye Harbour, East Sussex, TN31 7TU
CountryEngland
Coordinates50°56′18.5″N 0°45′50.9″E / 50.938472°N 0.764139°E / 50.938472; 0.764139
Opened1862 / 1966
Closed1928
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station

Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Harbour Road, on the west bank of the River Rother estuary, in the village of Rye Harbour, in the county of East Sussex.

An lifeboat was first stationed at nearby Winchelsea by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.[1]

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Hello Herbie II (B-900), on station since 2017.[2]

History

In addition to the lifeboat already stationed at Rye (Camber Sands), it was decided to locate another lifeboat 8 mi (13 km) further west, and Winchelsea Lifeboat Station was opened in 1862. A 30-foot unnamed Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed on station.[2]

On 13 February 1864, William C. Buck, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue of just one man, the Master, of the five crew of the fishing boat Thetis, but this was at the cost of coastguard man, G. Terry, who was lost during the rescue.[3]

The first lifeboat would be replaced after just five years, in 1867, with a larger 33-foot boat, named Storm Sprite. Soon after 18:45 on 22 December 1877, the Storm Sprite was launched to the aid of the schooner Vier Broders, on passage from Groningen to Portsmouth, when she stranded in low water and later broke up. Four crew were rescued from the rigging.[4][5][6]

1882 Lifeboat House

In 1882, a new lifeboat house was constructed by a local builder, Mr M. Anne, on the shore at Winchelsea, at a cost of £245. Built of pre-cast "no-fines" shingle based concrete, it was funded from RNLI donations.[7]

Both the Rye and Winchelsea lifeboats were launched to the aid of the steamship Medea on 4 November 1882. 16 crew were taken off the Medea by the Rye lifeboat. The Winchelsea lifeboat was capsized twice during her rescue attempts, and crewman Edward Robus was swept away and drowned.[8][9]

In 1901 Rye Lifeboat Station was closed. Winchelsea lifeboat station was renamed Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station in 1910.[1]

Mary Stanford Lifeboat Memorial window at Winchelsea Church

The 35-foot lifeboat John William Dudley (ON 453), on station since 1900, was replaced in 1916, with a 38-foot Liverpool-class lifeboat, named Mary Stanford (ON 661).[2]

On the 15 November 1928, Rye Harbour lifeboat Mary Stanford (ON 661) was launched into a south west gale, to the aid of the Alice of Riga. News was received that the crew had been rescued by another vessel, and the recall signal was fired three times - but was never heard. Entering the harbour on its return, the lifeboat was seen to capsize, and all 17 crew were lost.[10]

A memorial tablet made of Manx stone was presented to Rye Harbour by the people of the Isle of Man. A memorial stained glass window was placed in Winchelsea Church. It depicts a lifeboat putting out to a ship in distress while figures on the shore watch it as it goes.[1]

Rye Harbour lifeboat station was closed soon afterwards, with the boat being broken up.[2]

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.[11]

More stations were opened, and in June 1966, a lifeboat station at Rye Harbour was re-established, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-105).[2]

In preparation for the arrival of a new B-class (Atlantic 75), a new boathouse was constructed in 1996, to be shared with the National River Authority. In addition to housing the Atlantic-class lifeboat, bespoke 'Drive-Off - Drive On' (Do-Do) trailer, and Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor, new crew facilties were provided, with a kit room, workshop and toilets, and a retail outlet. A new timber slipway and an elevated walkway leading to the boathouse was also constructed. At a double ceremony on 19 October 1996, the boathouse was officially opened, along with the naming of the new B-class (Atlantic 75) lifeboat Commander & Mrs Rodney Wells (B-727).[1][12]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Rye Harbour.[1][3]

William Cumming Buck, RN, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard - 1864
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Keith W. Downey, Helm - 1981

Roll of Honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Rye Harbour lifeboat.[1]

  • Swept out of the lifeboat and lost, on service to the fishing boat Thetis, 13 February 1864
G. Terry, H.M. Coastguard
  • Lost when the lifeboat Storm Sprite capsized twice on service to the steamship Medea of Sunderland, 4 November 1882
Edward Robus
  • Lost when the lifeboat Mary Stanford (ON 661) capsized on service to the vessel Alice, 15 November 1928
Herbert Head, Coxswain (47)
James Alfred Head (19)
John Stanley Head (17)
Joseph Stonham, Second Coxswain (43)
Henry Cutting, Bowman (39)
Roberts Redvers Cutting (28)
Albert Ernest Cutting (26)
Charles Frederick David Pope (28)
Robert Henry Pope (23)
Lewis Alexander Pope (21)
William Thomas Albert Clark (27)
Leslie George Clark (24)
Arthur George Downey (25)
Maurice James Downey (23)
Albert Ernest Smith (44)
Walter Igglesden (37)
Charles Southerden (22)

Rye Harbour lifeboats

ON[a] Op.No.[b] Name In service[2] Class Comments
Pre-323 – Unnamed 1862–1867 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Pre-482 – Storm Sprite 1867–1883 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
228 – Frances Harris 1883–1899 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
331 – Willie Rogers 1899–1900 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
453 – John William Dudley 1900–1916 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]
661 – Mary Stanford 1916–1928 38-foot Liverpool (P&S) [Note 6]
Station Closed, 1928

Inshore lifeboats

Op.No.[b] Name In service[2] Class Comments
D-105 Unnamed 1966–1975 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-241 Unnamed 1976–1986 D-class (Zodiac III)
C-517 Unnamed 1986–1996 C-class (Zodiac Grand Raid IV)
B-548 Aldershot 1996 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-727 Commander & Mrs Rodney Wells 1996–2010 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-842 Hello Herbie 2010–2015 B-class (Atlantic 85)
B-875 Alexander 2015–2017 B-class (Atlantic 85)
B-900 Hello Herbie II 2017– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type In service[2] Comments
TW03 RLJ 367R Talus MB-764 County 1991–1992
TA19 Q243 YNT County Tractor 1991–1996
TW28H N671 UAW Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk3) 1996–2006
TW19Hc J120 VNT Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2006–2010
TW62Hb DX59 LHZ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) 2010–2013
TW46Hb V938 EAW Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) 2013–2014
TW54Hc DU02 WEJ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2014–2020
TW56Hc DY52 EFR Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2020–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 30-foot Self-righting (P&S)
  2. ^ 33-foot Self-righting (P&S)
  3. ^ 34-foot Self-righting (P&S)
  4. ^ 34-foot Self-righting (P&S)
  5. ^ 35-foot Self-righting (P&S)
  6. ^ 38-foot (14-Oared) Liverpool (P&S) lifeboat

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Rye Harbour's station history". Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. ^ a b Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
  4. ^ "Royal National Lifeboat Institution". Huddersfield Chronicle. No. 3249. Huddersfield. 4 January 1878. p. 4.
  5. ^ "Latest Shipping Intelligence". The Times. No. 29134. London. 25 December 1877. col B, p. 9.
  6. ^ "Winchelsea". The Lifeboat. X (107): 215. 1 February 1878. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Old Lifeboat Station (Mary Stanford Boathouse))". The National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Capsizing Of A Lifeboat". The Cornishman. No. 226. 9 November 1882. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Latest Shipping Intelligence". The Times. No. 30657. London. 6 November 1882. col F, p. 7.
  10. ^ Bruce, KT (8 November 2018). "90 years ago: Remembering the lost Rye Harbour lifeboat crew". RNLI. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Double Ceremony at Rye Harbour" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 55 (540): 6. Summer 1997. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
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