Flamborough Lifeboat Station
RNLI Lifeboat station in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flamborough Lifeboat Station can be found at South Landing on South Sea Road at Flamborough, a village approximately 44 miles (71 km) to the east of York, on the promentory of Flamborough Head in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
| Flamborough Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
| |
 Flamborough South Landing Lifeboat Station | |
  Location within East Riding of Yorkshire | |
General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | South Landing, South Sea Road, Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 1AE, England |
| Coordinates | 54.1046°N 0.118968°W |
| Opened | 1871 |
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website | |
| Flamborough RNLI Lifeboat Station | |
Two lifeboat stations were established at Flamborough, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1871, at both the North Landing, and the South Landing.
The South Landing station closed in 1938. In 1993, the remaining All-weather lifeboat was withdrawn from North Landing, and the station closed, but an Inshore lifeboat was provided in the same year, operated from the South Landing station.
The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore Lifeboat Forever Yibba (B-820), on station since 2026.
History
A north station at Flamborough was built in 1871 as No. 1 station, Flamborough.[1] No. 2 site was built in the same year, but closed in 1938. Both sites were opened after the Great Gale of 1871 when many ships were wrecked along the east coast of England.[2] As the coastline at Flamborough Head juts out for 6 miles (9.7 km) into the North Sea, having two sites on either side of the Head would mean that from wherever the wind was blowing in bad weather, at least one of the lifeboats could be launched.[3] A slipway was added to the No. 1 site in 1890, but ultimately, the two Flamborough sites were amalgamated into one on the northern site in the 1930s.[4] Both sites used skids and poles to aid the launching of the lifeboats into the water, and in 1934, when the No. 1 lifeboathouse was enlarged for the Elizabeth and Albina Whitley (ON 772), a turntable was also added at the top to aid recovery of the vessel.[5]
In 1992, the south site was demolished and rebuilt to accommodate lifeboats in one location.[6] A rebuild was also necessary as the old No. 2 site was not big enough to accommodate the newer lifeboats and had been in use as a fishing store.[7] The move to the old No. 2 site involved a withdrawal of the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and an inshore lifeboat (ILB) being installed in its place. The crew at Flamborough were reluctant to take on an ILB instead of an ALB, which they put down to the tides and waters around Flamborough being particularly tricky.[8] The new site was opened in 1993.[9]
In 2018, the Flamborough lifeboat Elizabeth Jane Palmer featured in an episode of the BBC2 documentary Saving Lives at Sea.[10]
On 30 June 2026, Flamborough welcomed the arrival of a new B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Forever Yibba (B-959), replacing Elizabeth Jane Palmer.[11]
Notable incidents
Carol Sandra and North Wind (1984)
On the morning of 7 May 1984, the fishing coble, Carol Sandra left port at Bridlington to take her lobster and crab pots further out to sea. A storm was coming in and when she left harbour, the weather was deteriorating, so by the time she was out of the harbour, the waves were rolling at a height of 15 feet (4.6 m).[12] At some point in the morning, the Carol Sandra sank without any signs, warnings, mayday calls or distress signals sent out. Just before noon, someone noticed the bow of a ship sticking up vertically out of the water and called the coastguard. A search was conducted by an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter, as well as the Flamborough Lifeboat and staff from the coastguard searching from the clifftops. A pleasure boat on a fishing trip, the North Wind III also helped with the search. As the North Wind III approached something that her crew had seen in the water, she was capsized by the rough sea, which catapulted all seven aboard into the water.[13]
En route to the search area, the Flamborough Lifeboat's engine developed problems, so the Bridlington Lifeboat was launched so that the Flamborough Lifeboat could return for repairs. Unfortunately the Bridlington Lifeboat struck one of the pieces of wreckage from the Carol Sandra which jammed between her propeller and her hull. This meant deploying the Filey Lifeboat to the scene whilst the others went back to port.[14] The RAF winchman in the helicopter was transferring one casualty from the water into the lifeboat when he bumped awkwardly into the wheelhouse and broke his pelvis. The casualty went into the water on one side of the boat, and then popped up on the other side where a lifeboatman rescued him.[15] The winchman was taken to hospital, whilst another man managed to be rescued from the water on the winch without the winchman being present. The captain of the North Wind III and one other crew member (his son) found an air pocket underneath the upturned boat and were dragged ashore. Three of the fishermen drowned.[12]
In all seven men drowned with only three of the bodies being found. The ashes of those who died were scattered in the North Sea.[13] There is a memorial to the seven men lost in the village and another in the churchyard of St Oswald's in Flamborough.[16]
Station honours
The following are awards made at Flamborough:[17][18]
- RNIPLS Silver Medal
- Capt. William Dunn, Master of the Providence – 1839
- William Parker, Capt. of the Pearl – 1853
- John Parker, Mate of the Pearl – 1853
- RNLI Silver Medal
- Robert Pockley, Coxswain – 1895
- George Leng, Coxswain – 1937
- RNLI Bronze Medal
- Edward A. Slaughter, Motor Mechanic – 1937
- George Pockley, Coxswain – 1971
- Mrs Porter’s gift 1937,
(awarded for the Bravest Deed of the year by a lifeboat crew member)- Edward A. Slaughter, Motor Mechanic – 1937
- Mrs Porter’s gift 1952,
(awarded for the Bravest Deed of the Year by a lifeboat cre member}- Robert Leng, Assistant Mechanic – 1952
- The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award 2007
(for the outstanding inshore lifeboat rescue of the year)- Darren Pollard, Helm – 2008
- The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
- Richard Chadwick, Coxswain – 1930
- Robert Leng, Assistant Motor Mechanic – 1952
- Alwyn Emmerson, crew member – 1971
- Alwyn Emmerson, crew member – 1975
- Darren Pollard, Helm – 2008
- A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
- George Pockley, Coxswain – 1975
- L. Robson, Second Coxswain/Mechanic – 1987
- R. Sunley, Assistant Mechanic – 1987
- B. James, boat owner – 1987
- A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
- Simon Robson, Helm – 1998
- Nigel Atkinson, crew member – 1998
- James Cross, crew member – 1998
Roll of honour
In memory of those lost whilst serving Flamborough:[17]
- Drowned when their coble Two Brothers capsized, trying to effect the rescue of three men in the coble Gleaner, who also drowned. 55 February 1909
- Melchoir Chadwick (37)
- George Gibbon (34)
- Thomas Leng Major (18)
Flamborough lifeboats
No. 1 Station (North Landing) 1871-1993
Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats
| ON[a] | Name | Built | On station[19] | Class | Comments[20] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-555 | Gertrude | 1871 | 1871–1887 | 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 1][21] |
| 151 | Mary Frederick | 1887 | 1887–1904 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 2] |
| 370 | Lily Bird | 1894 | 1904–1905 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 3] Reserve lifeboat No.5, previously at Dunwich |
| 549 | Forester | 1905 | 1905–1934 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 4] |
- Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.
Motor lifeboats
| ON[a] | Op. No.[b] | Name | Built | On station[22] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 772 | – | Elizabeth and Albina Whitley | 1934 | 1934–1948 | Liverpool | |
| 797 | – | Howard D | 1937 | 1948–1953 | Liverpool | Previously at St Helier, and operated under German command during the Second World War.[23] |
| 915 | – | Friendly Forester | 1953 | 1953–1983 | Liverpool | Sold in 1984, but has since returned to Flamborough and is on display at Haven Holidays Thornwick Bay Holiday Village, close to its old base at North Landing Station.[24] |
| 972 | 37-05 | Will and Fanny Kirby | 1963 | 1983–1993 | Oakley | [25] Previously at Seaham |
No.1 Station (North Landing) closed 1993.
No. 2 Station (South Landing) 1871–1938
Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats
| ON[a] | Name | Built | On station[26] | Class | Comments[20] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235 | St Michael's, Paddington | 1871 | 1871–1879 | 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 5] Renamed in 1879 |
| 235 | Grace and Sally of Broadoak | 1871 | 1879–1880 | 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 6] Renamed in 1880 |
| 235 | Thomas and Isabella Firbank of Kingston-upon-Hull | 1871 | 1880–1882 | 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 7] Renamed in 1882 |
| 235 | Matthew Middlewood | 1871 | 1882–1901 | 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 8] |
| 474 | Matthew Middlewood | 1901 | 1901–1933 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 9] |
| 611 | Jane Hannah MacDonald | 1910 | 1933–1938 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 10] Previously at Appledore and Eastbourne. |
No.2 Station (South Landing) closed 1938.
Flamborough Lifeboat Station (South Landing) 1993–
| Op. No.[b] | Name | On station[27] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-515 | Vee Webber | 1993–1994 | B-class (Atlantic 21) | [28] |
| B-703 | Jason Logg | 1994–2007 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | [29] |
| B-820 | Elizabeth Jane Palmer | 2007–2026 | B-class (Atlantic 85) | [30] |
| B-815 | Peterborough Beer Festival III | 2016–2017 | B-class (Atlantic 85) | Relief boat on station October 2016–January 2017 whilst Elizabeth Jane Palmer was under repair.[31] |
| B-883 | Roy Snewin | 2018 | B-class (Atlantic 85) | Relief boat on station April 2018–August 2018 whilst Elizabeth Jane Palmer was under repair.[10] |
| B-959 | Forever Yibba | 2026– | B-class (Atlantic 85) | [11] |
Launch and recovery tractors
| Op. No.[b] | Reg. No. | Type | On station[32] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TW23Hc | K805 CUX | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 1993–2003 | |
| TW18Hb | H710 RUX | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) | 2003–2012 | |
| TW52Hc | Y506 JNT | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2012–2022 | |
| TW46Hb | V938 EAW | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) | 2022–2023 | |
| TW52Hc | Y506 JNT | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2023– | |
See also
Notes
- 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs M. A. Preston of Lytham St Annes, built by Watkins of Blackwall, London, costing £400.
- 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr S. Bird of East Cowes, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £370.
- 35-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Ancient Order of Foresters, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £938.
- Gift of Mr J. Hargreaves of Broadoak.
- Legacy of Mr T. and Mrs I. Firbank of Kingston upon Hull.
- 35-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr G. Middlewood of Rufforth Hall, York, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £850.
- 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs MacDonald of Brighton, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £931.