Minehead Lifeboat Station

On the evening of 12 January 1899, the Lynmouth lifeboat was involved in an epic service, with a team of over 20 horses dragging the 10-ton lifeboat and carriage over Exmoor, a distance of 15 miles (24 km), climbing and descending over 1,423 feet (434 m), before launching at Porlock Weir on 13 December, to the aid of the three-masted-ship Forest Hall.^[3]

In the months following this service, questions were inevitably raised regarding the lack of lifeboat cover for the area. The towns of Watchet and Minehead were visited by the Chief Inspector of Lifeboats, and following his report to the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 11 October 1900, it was decided to establish a lifeboat station at Minehead, "there being sufficient men available for manning and launching the boat, in order to strengthen the Life-boat Service on the coast of Somerset."^[4][5]

A new boathouse was constructed, on a suitable site granted by Mr Geoffrey F. Luttrell, Lord of the manor, at a cost of £803-11s. A new 35 ft (11 m) non-self-righting Liverpool-class 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (12) oars, arrived on station in 1901. The cost of the lifeboat and its equipment was provided by the legacy of Miss Leicester of Bayswater, and in accordance with her wishes, was named George Leicester (ON 477).^[5]

For two years the boat was launched across the beach using skids, but from 1903 a carriage was provided.^[1]

In 1939, the station's pulling and sailing boat was withdrawn and replaced by a motor lifeboat. The boat was a lightweight 32 ft (9.8 m) Surf-class lifeboat, one of nine constructed for stations where launching heavier boats was more difficult. Instead of relying on horses or manpower to launch the boat, a Clayton launch tractor was also sent to the station.^[6][7]

The Surf-class lifeboat was also unusual, as instead of standard propellers, the twin Weyburn 'F2' 12-hp engines provided drive to two Gill water jet propulsion units, delivering 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph), and a range of 88 mi (142 km) at full speed. Costing £3,478, and funded by the legacy of Miss Kate Greatorex of Mytton Hall, Shrewsbury, at a ceremony on 26 July 1939, with over 3000 people in attendance, Mrs G. F. Luttrell named the new lifeboat Kate Greatorex (ON 816).^[6]

On 18 December 1941, the local naval officer reported wreckage in the mud at Blue Anchor Bay, to be investigated. Lifeboat coxswain John Slade set out in his own boat The Mouette, accompanied by fireman, and lifeboat shore signalman, Thomas Escott. What was thought to be part of an aircraft, turned out to be a parachute mine, which exploded as the men went closer to inspect, killing them both. Slade and Escott were Minehead's only direct fatalities of enemy action.^[8][9]

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. Gradually more Inshore lifeboats were deployed, with a D-class (RFD PB16) (D-177) being placed at Minehead in April 1970, and housed in the tractor garage.^[1][10]

Following a coastal review, the All-weather lifeboat B. H. M. H. (ON 882) was withdrawn on 20 May 1973. The following year, a second Inshore lifeboat arrived. The C-class Inshore lifeboat (C-500) was a twin-engined development of the D-class lifeboat. After five years service, the C-class was replaced by the much larger twin-engined B-class (Atlantic 21) RIB, Catherine Plumbley (B-544), which would serve at Minehead for the following 15 years.^[11]

The building was modified again in 1993, to accommodate a new B-class (Atlantic 75) lifeboat, Bessie (B-708), and the opportunity was taken to modernise the crew facilities and add a gift shop alongside.^[1]

Minehead was the first RNLI station to use a Tooltrak tractor to launch its D-class lifeboat. This replaced an older Argocat tractor in 2011.^[12]

On 2 July 1972, Helm David James scaled Culver cliff to rescue a man stuck 50 ft (15 m) above sea-level. The D-class anchor rope was used to help lower the man. James received a "Framed Letter of Thanks signed by Chairman of the Institution".^[1]

In 1973, four children were cut-off by the tide at Dunster Beach. PC Timothy Marsh swam 0.5 mi (0.80 km) to assist two other holiday makers, who had waded out, and were holding the children above the water, and managed to rope them all together. The lifeboat launched in under two minutes, and all seven, along with another child, who had set out in a dingy to assist, but had himself been capsized, were rescued. The three men ware each awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum.^[13][14]

On 13 September 1975, the three crew of the C-class lifeboat launched at 23:35 into gale-force conditions, and saved the lives of three people from the yacht Svea. Helm Christopher Rundle was accorded "The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum", with Vellum Service Certificates presented to crew members Peter McGregor and Albert Hartgen.^[15]

Fundraising started in 2021, to modernise the facilities and to enlarge the boat house, so that both lifeboats could be launched more quickly.^[16]

The stone-built boat house is situated at the western end of the town beyond the harbour, where there is access to water at all states of the tide.

There is a hard standing in front of the boat house but boats are taken down the pebble beach when launched. Due to the nature of the beach, both launch vehicles are track laying vehicles.

A small detached garage behind the main boathouse was demolished, and the original boat house has been sympathetically extended, with an attached garage at the back, and a gift shop for fund-raising on the west side.

The Atlantic 85 can be launched in Force 7 winds (Force 6 at night) and can operate at up to 35 knots (65 km/h) for 2½ hours.^[17] Adjacent lifeboats are at Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station to the west, and Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station to the east. If a larger all-weather boat is needed in the area, it may come from Ilfracombe or across the Bristol Channel from Barry Dock.^[18]

The following are awards made at Minehead:^{[1][13][14][15]}

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

  David James, Helm – 1972

• Testimonial on Vellum, awarded by the Royal Humane Society

  PC Timothy Marsh – 1974

  A. G. Wakeford – 1974

  Unknown member of public – 1974

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

  Christopher Rundle, Helm – 1975

• Vellum Service Certificate

  Peter S. McGregor, crew member – 1975

  Albert J. Hartgen, crew member – 1975

In memory of those lost whilst serving Minehead lifeboat:^[1]

• Suffered from exposure whilst on service in 1910, and died the following year

  William Porter Slade, crew member (34)

• Killed by a parachute mine whilst investigating wreckage, 18 December 1941

  John Slade, Coxswain (56)

  Thomas Escott, shore signalman (46)

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