History of
Fleetwood Lifeboat
1859 The RNLI
established a lifeboat Station and a boathouse was built on the beach. Lifeboat
– unnamed – recorded 9 launches saving 32 lives. Coxswain John Fox.
1860 Silver
Medals were awarded to Captain Edward Wasey and Coxswain John Fox for rescuing
one man from the wrecked schooner Ann Mitchell.
A second Silver Medal was awarded to Captain Wasey for rescuing four men
from the schooner Catherine. A third Silver Medal was awarded to Captain Wasey
for rescuing sixteen people from the barque Vermont.
1862 New
lifeboat named Edward Wasey recorded 11 launches saving 28 lives.
1863 Silver
Medals were awarded to Tug Master W Swarbrick and Pilot Robert Gerrard for
rescuing 17 people from the barque Pudyona.
1876 James
Turner retires as coxswain and George Doherty becomes coxswain.
1878 Robert
Wright becomes coxswain.
1879 A new
wooden boathouse and slipway were built on piles close to the Lower Lighthouse.
1880 A new
lifeboat Child of Hale recorded 15 launches saving 24 lives.
1887 A new
lifeboat also named Child of Hale recorded 5 launches saving 13 lives. A second
lifeboat Edith recorded 3 launches saving 19 lives.
1890 A Silver
Medal was awarded to coxswain Robert Wright for his services over 30 years.
Silver Medals were also awarded to
fishermen James Fogg and George Wilkinson for attempting to save the crew of the
schooner Jean Campbell. Fishermen George Greenall and James Abram
died in the attempt . A memorial in their memory stands in the Euston
Gardens.
1892 Child of
Hale was withdrawn leaving the lifeboat Edith.
1893 A new
boathouse was built costing £1630 as the Railway Company
needed the previous site.
1894 A new
lifeboat Maude Pickup recorded 26 launches saving 117 lives.
1895 A second
Silver Medal was awarded to Robert Wright on his retirement
for his 36 years service . David Leadbetter takes over as coxswain
1901 A new
slipway was built to the east of the Lower Lighthouse due to the build up of
sand and shingle. The Railway Company moved the boathouse to the new slipway.
1909 Coxswain
John Robert Leadbetter.
1923 Coxswain
William Wright.
1933 The
stations first motor lifeboat Sir Fitzroy Clayton was placed on service and
recorded 4 launches saving 4 lives.
New coxswain Jeffrey Wright.
1935 New
lifeboat Frederick H. Pilley recorded 12 launches saving 19 lives.
1939 New
lifeboat Ann Letitia Russell recorded 205 launches saving 158 lives.
1941 Silver
Medals were awarded to coxswain Jeffrey Wright and mechanic Sydney Hill for
rescuing eight crew from the schooner Stella
Marie. Crew members J.
Leadbetter, R. Wright, W. Houston and D. Wright also received the Institution’s
Thanks on Vellum
1945 Head
launcher William Wright died as a
result of an injury he received on
service. Wright aged 73 had
previously been coxswain for 10 years.
1948 Coxswain
James Leadbetter.
1949 A Bronze
Medal was awarded to coxswain James Leadbetter for rescuing the 8 crew of the
ketch Alpha. Six of the crew were rescued a second time after they returned to
the vessel in spite of warnings.
1953 Coxswain
Herbert Rawcliffe.
1954 Coxswain
Albert Wright.
1959 A
Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1960 Coxswain
Richard Wright.
1964 Coxswain
Ben Bee.
1966 An inshore
lifeboat station was established with a D class lifeboat.
1969 Coxswain
David Scott.
1975 A new
mooring pen was built for the all weather lifeboat.
1976 A new
lifeboat Lady of Lancashire recorded 170 launches saving 95 lives.
1977 Gales
washed away the ILB house. A new one was placed on the end of the mooring pen
jetty and the ILB was launched by davit.
1980 A new ILB
house was built. Coxswain Ian Fairclough.
1984 The
Institution’s Thanks on Vellum was awarded to second coxswain Steve Musgrave for
rescuing a windsurfer three and a half miles off Fleetwood.
1985 The Ralph
Glister Award for the most notable service of 1984, was awarded to helmsman
Steve Musgrave and crew members Barrie Farmer and David Owen.
1986 Improved
crew facilities were provided.
1987 The
Institution’s Thanks on Vellum was awarded to coxswain Ian Fairclough for the
rescue of the two crew from the sinking fishing
vessel Galilean.
1989 New Tyne
class lifeboat William Street arrives on station.
1997 Coxswain
Chris Hurst
2000 New D
class lifeboat Saddleworth arrives on station.
2005 New
boathouse and HM Coastguard station completed.
2005 RSPCA
Bronze Medal was awarded to mechanic Steve Carroll for rescuing a dog.
2007 Coxswain
Paul Ashworth.
2009 The
150 Year Anniversary Vellum and
a new D class Mary Elizabeth Barnes arrives on station.