Newbiggin Lifeboat Station

On the 22 March 1851, the fishing cobles of Newbiggin set out for a days work. Caught by a sudden storm, four boats were capsized, and 14 men drowned. For their gallantry and rescue efforts, resulting in the saving of two lives, five fishermen from Newbiggin were each awarded the Silver Medal from the RNIPLS.^[4]

The Duke of Northumberland, the driving force of the Newcastle Shipwreck Association, and soon to be president of the RNIPLS, ordered and funded a lifeboat house to be constructed on the shore at Newbiggin. In 1852, a 30-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, was named Latimer, was placed at the station by the RNIPLS, with them taking on management of the station.^[2][5]

The lifeboat Latimer was launched on 7 January 1854, to the aid of the vessel Embla of Norway, on passage from Setúbal, Portugal to Stavanger, when she wrecked off the coast of Northumberland. All 13 men aboard the Embla were lost. The lifeboat had launched without a full crew, and despite their best efforts, failed to reach the wreck. In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, Coxswain Philip Jefferson, one of the five fishermen recognised in 1851, was awarded a second-service clasp to his silver medal.^[4][6]

Coxswain John Brown was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, for the service to the steamship Northumberland, which ran aground in a severe gale on 14 October 1881. The lifeboat William Hopkinson of Brighouse rescued her crew of four.^[4][7]

In January 1927, the 37-foot Newbiggin lifeboat Ada Lewis (ON 566) was called to the Newbiggin fishing fleet. With most of the usual crew out fishing, the boat was manned with miners, who had just finished a shift at the local colliery. The boat would not have got away, without the extraordinary efforts of the 25 local women helpers, who ended up waist deep in water. They were collectively accorded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'.^[8]

It was decided to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat in 1981. The boathouse was modified to accommodate a new B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat along with the Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor, and improved crew facilities were provided with the constructed of an extension. Oakley-class lifeboat 37-17 Mary Joicey (ON 984) was withdrawn on 26 February 1981, with the relief B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat Co-Operative No.1 (B-511) temporarily assigned to the station on 15 March 1981. The stations permanent lifeboat, Atlantic 21-class Kirklees (B-553) arrived in 1982.^[2]

Further modifications to the boathouse were required to house the larger B-class (Atlantic 75). Works were completed in July 1998, and RNLB CSMA 75th Anniversary (B-745) arrived on 3 August 1998, replacing Kirklees. On 19 September 2012, the Atlantic 85-class Richard Wake Burdon (B-864) was placed on service, costing £204,000, funded by the legacy from Mr Hylton Burdon, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, and named in honour of his elder brother Richard, who was lost at sea while serving with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.^[2][9]

The Newbiggin Lifeboat House is the oldest boathouse still operated by the RNLI. Mention must be made of the Newbiggin Rocket House, whilst not managed by the RNLI, was constructed as an extension to the lifeboat house in 1866. In addition to lifeboats, many sea rescues were performed by the Rocket Brigade, who could effect rescues by firing rocket-powered lines to wrecks close to the shore. The Newbiggin Rocket House, was refurbished in its 150th anniversary year in 2016.^[2][10]

In a south east gale, and the extremely cold night of 4 February 1940, the 32-foot twin-engine Surf-class lifeboat Augustus and Laura (ON 810) was launched at 05:00 to the aid of the motor-vessel Eminent of Belgium, which had been forced to remain at sea, when the port at Newcastle-upon-Tyne closed due to the bad weather. The vessel had been driven ashore at Newbiggin Point. Unable to make headway, the lifeboat returned. In an extraordinary effort, 45 launchers then hauled to lifeboat overland to Newbiggin Point. The lifeboat was launched for the second time at 08:10, and all 11 crew were rescued. For their efforts, the women helpers of Newbiggin were again collectively awarded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'. Coxswain George Ralph Taylor received the RNLI Silver Medal^[4][11]

The following are awards made at Newbiggin^[2][4]

• RNIPLS Silver Medal

John Dent – 1851

Philip Jefferson – 1851

William Armstrong – 1851

Henry Brown – 1851

Robert Armstrong – 1851

• RNLI Silver Medal

Philip Jefferson, Coxswain – 1854 (Second-Service clasp)

John Brown, Coxswain – 1881

John Brown, Coxswain – 1888 (Second-Service clasp)

George Ralph Taylor, Second Coxswain – 1940

• RNLI Bronze Medal

William Robinson, Coxswain – 1926

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

Watson Brown, Coxswain – 1914

The women helpers of Newbiggin – 1927

The women helpers of Newbiggin – 1940

George Dawson, Assistant Mechanic, acting coxswain – 1975

John Lisle Robinson, skipper of the fishing coble Margaret Lisle – 1975

George Dawson, Coxswain – 1976

• Vellum Service Certificates

Each member of the lifeboat crew – 1975

Each member of the crew of fishing coble Margaret Lisle – 1975

Each member of the lifeboat crew – 1976

In memory of those lost whilst serving Newbiggin lifeboat.^[2]

• Collapsed and died after swimming out to a fishing boat heading for the rocks, 14 July 1972

Adam Campbell Storey, Branch Chairman (48)

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