Falmouth Lifeboat Station

Falmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Falmouth, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1867 and the present station was opened in 1993. It operates a Severn Class all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

Falmouth Lifeboat Station
Falmouth
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationTinners Walk, Port Pendennis, TR11 3XZ
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates50.1513°N 5.0591°W / 50.1513; -5.0591
OpenedFirst building 1867
Current boathouse 1993
OwnerRoyal National Lifeboat Institution

History

Falmouth is situated on the Carrick Roads, a large natural harbour on the south coast of Cornwall. It developed as a port for packet boats in the seventeenth century. These moved elsewhere in the 1850s but a new commercial dockyard was founded in 1860.[1] A committee was set up in 1865 to request the RNLI to station a lifeboat at Falmouth. A wooden lifeboat house was sanctioned and constructed near the recently constructed docks, being opened on 28 August 1867. The building cost £158 and a 10-oared lifeboat was built in London at a cost of £280. This was paid for by money raised in Gloucester and the boat had been named City of Gloucester in that city on 9 April that year. Another £98 10s paid for a carriage that enabled the boat to be transported to the best launch site for any particular rescue.[2] In 1901 the local secretary informed the crew that their services would no longer be required after 20 April; there was concern about their conduct at launchings.[3] In 1918 the RNLI's lease on the land at the docks was terminated and the lifeboat was moved to moorings in the main harbour. A boarding boat was provided to enable the crew to reach their boat.[4]

17-02 The Will

The first motor lifeboat at Falmouth was Watson Class The Brothers, originally stationed at Penlee Lifeboat Station, it was transferred to Falmouth on 14 April 1931. It was powered by a Weyburn 80BHP petrol engine.[5] The replacement Watson-class boat, B.A.S.P. (the initials of the donors, Blackburn, Armstrong, Smart and Price) which arrived in 1934, had been the first lifeboat at Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and the second of three Watson-class built by J Samuel White of Cowes to be stationed at Falmouth, is now preserved in the RNLI historic lifeboat collection at the Dockyard, Chatham. The third Watson was Crawford and Constance Conybeare in 1940.

The station’s last displacement hulled lifeboat, the prototype Thames class lifeboat Rotary Service, left the station in August 1976 after four years' service.[6] It was replaced by the prototype Waveney, 44-001. This had been built in America in 1964 and was the first of the RNLI's 'fast' lifeboats, being capable of 14 knots (26 km/h), twice the speed of earlier motor lifeboats. It operated from Falmouth until June the following year.[7] Unofficially called 'The Yank' after its American connection, 44-001 is now also preserved in the RNLI historic lifeboat collection at the Dockyard, Chatham.

B595 Falmouth Round Table

An experimental 20.5-foot (6.2 m) Hatch Type rigid inshore rescue boat (IRB), 18-01, was temporarily stationed at Falmouth from August to October 1967.[8] Another early rigid ILB, an 18.5-foot (5.6 m) McLachlan, was used at Falmouth as the station's boarding boat. It proved useful for some inshore rescues, so was formally designated an ILB from 27 March 1980. It was replaced by a more conventional Atlantic 21 rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) in 1987.[9]

Work on a new lifeboat station to house the inshore lifeboat started near the docks in July 1993; six months later it was brought into use and the hut on North Quay was vacated. The boat was kept inside, and was launched from a carriage using a specially constructed slipway. Two years later, a mooring was dredged close by to allow the all-weather boat to be moored alongside.[10]

On station in 1997 was The Will, the first production Severn Class. It had been built in 1995 for Stornoway Lifeboat Station but had to undergo several modifications before it was fit for service. In the meantime it had been shown to many lifeboat stations where the class was expected to be deployed. It so impressed the crew at Falmouth that they asked the RNLI to station it there until their own boat was built, and so it was there from January 1997 until December 2001.[11]

Queen Elizabeth II, Patron of the RNLI, visited the station on 1 May 2002 to name the station's latest lifeboat Richard Scott Cox.[12][13]

Service awards

The volunteer crews of the RNLI do not expect reward or recognition for their work, but the records include many rescues that have been recognised by letters, certificates and medals from the RNLI management. This list is just some of the most notable.

On 19 January 1940, the lifeboat Crawford and Constance Conybeare put to sea, just six days after being christened. The SS Kirkpool of West Hartlepool was dragging its anchors in a gale. The lifeboat managed to pass a line between the ship and a tug but this was not able to prevent it running aground, which caused a serious injury to a seaman in the engine room. He and 13 colleagues were taken off by the lifeboat and landed in Falmouth. The lifeboat then returned to the grounded ship and managed to rescue the remaining 21 crew members. Lifeboat Coxswain John Snell was awarded a Silver Medal for his outstanding seamanship and great courage, and his Motor Mechanic, Charles Williams, received a Bronze Medal too for his gallantry.[14]

The relief lifeboat Princess Royal (C.S. No. 7) was called out twice on the evening of 7 August 1972. It returned to its moorings at a quarter past midnight. Four hours later it was called out again to a small boat carrying ten people that had a damaged rudder and was at the mercy of a Force 9 severe gale. The lifeboat stood by waiting for a tug to arrive, but the boat lost its anchor so more positive action was needed. Despite the 10 feet (3.0 m) waves the lifeboat managed to take off eight people, leaving just two on board to crew the boat. The tug eventually arrived and took the boat in tow into Falmouth; the lifeboat returned to its moorings at half past three in the afternoon. Lifeboat Coxswain Walter Brown was awarded a Bronze Medal for his skill and courage, and the efforts of his crew were also recognised.[15]

The Rotary Service put to sea in the evening of 28 November 1977 to help a crew of six on a barge that was being towed in heavy seas 8 miles (13 km) off The Lizard. The barge was 110 feet (34 m) long, 70 feet (21 m) wide, and had four legs which rose 70 feet (21 m) above the deck. Five men managed to jump onto the lifeboat, but the sixth narrowly missed being crushed between the lifeboat and the rolling barge. Lifeboat Coxswain Arthur West was awarded a Bronze Medal for his outstanding seamanship and tremendous courage, and his crew were also recognised for the parts they played in the rescue.[16]

An unexpected storm, gusting up to hurricane force 12, blew up in the Western Approaches on 13 August 1979 during the Fastnet Race while 303 yachts were at sea. The recently arrived Arun class lifeboat, which was later to be named Elizabeth Ann, put to sea on one fruitless search on the evening of 13 August. Soon after returning to its station it was asked to join lifeboats from 12 other stations in a major operation to rescue crews. It took up a search area to the west of the Isles of Scilly eight hours after leaving its moorings. After 32 hours the crew were given a break at Newlyn. It finally returned home just after midnight, in the early hours of 16 August. In common with the other stations involved, Falmouth received a special framed certificate from Duke of Atholl, the chairman of the RNLI.[17] Among the yachts assisted was the Drum which capsized when it lost its keel. With the help of a helicopter, all 22 crew members, including pop star Simon Le Bon, were rescued safely.[18]

Description

The lifeboat station is situated in Tinners Walk close to Falmouth Docks. The building is shared with H.M. Coastguard and separate areas provide covered storage for the coastguard equipment and the RNLI inshore lifeboat. The building also houses an RNLI fund-raising shop. A slipway in front of the building is used for launching the ILB, while the all-weather boat is moored at a pontoon alongside.[13]

Area of operation

The RNLI aims to reach any casualty up to 50 miles (80 km) from its stations, and within two hours in good weather. To do this the Severn class lifeboat at Falmouth has an operating range of 250 nautical miles (460 km) and a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h).[19] Adjacent lifeboats are at Fowey Lifeboat Station to the East, and The Lizard Lifeboat Station to the West.[20]

Current fleet
17-29 Richard Cox Scott
  • 17-29 Richard Cox Scott – a 17 metres (56 ft) Severn-class AWB entered service at Falmouth on 18 May 2001. This is moored at a pontoon in front of the lifeboat station. It carries a Y-class inflatable boat (number Y193) that can be deployed while at sea.
  • B-916 Robina Nixon Chard – an Atlantic 85 Class ILB entered service at Falmouth on 21 August 2019

Former lifeboats

'ON' is the RNLI's sequential Official Number; 'Op. No.' is the operational number painted onto the boat.

Pulling and sailing lifeboats
ON Name Built At Falmouth Class Comments
? City of Gloucester 1867 1867–1887 33 feet (10 m) self-righting, 10 oars [2]
? Jane Whittington 1887 1887–1894 34 feet (10 m) self-righting, 10 oars [21]
372 Bob Newbon 1894 1894–1922 37 feet (11 m) self-righting, 12 oars [22]
417 Jane Anne 1898 1922–1928 37 feet (11 m) self-righting To be restored at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine[5][23]
664 Herbert Sturmy 1918 1928–1931 37.5 feet (11.4 m) self-righting, 12 oars Sold and converted, became Trident of Arne[5][24]

Motor lifeboats
ON Op. No. Name Built At Falmouth Class Comments
671 – The Brothers 1922 1931–1934 45ft Watson-class Sold and converted, now Admiral Douglas at Dover[24][25]
687 – B.A.S.P. 1924 1934–1940 45ft Watson-class Preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard[24][26]
829 – Crawford and Constance Conybeare 1939 1940–1968 46ft Watson-class Sold and converted, renamed Connie[27][28]
928 – Lilla Marras, Douglas and Will 1955 1968–1974 46ft 9in Watson-class Sold, became Lilla Marras at Harlingen[29][30]
1031 50-001 Rotary Service 1973 1974–1978 Thames-class Sold, now Treffrey at Castletownbere[6][31]
– 44-001 – 1964 1978–1979 Waveney-class Preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard[7][31]
1058 52-11 Elizabeth Ann 1979 1979–1997 Arun-class 1997-2001, relief fleet. 2003, sold to Australia's RVCP
1201 17-02 The Will 1995 1997–2001 Severn-class In RNLI relief fleet[11][32]

Inshore lifeboats
OP. No. Name At Falmouth Class Type Comments
18-01 – 1967 A Hatch [33]
A-503 – ? A McLachlan Prototype boat with wooden hull. Falmouth boarding boat, used as ILB c.1979[34]
A-508 – c.1980–1987 A McLachlan GPC hulled boarding boat, designated ILB from 1980.[9]
B-518 Sole Bay 1987–1988 B Atlantic 21 [35]
B-541 Elizabeth Bestwick 1988–1994 B Atlantic 21 [36]
B-595 Falmouth Round Table 1994–2007 B Atlantic 21 [37]
B-756 Eve Pank 2007–2019 B Atlantic 75 [38]

See also

References
  1. Kittridge, Alan (1989). Cornwall's Maritime Heritage. Truro: Twelveheads Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-906294-15-0.
  2. Morris, Jeff (2002). The History of the Falmouth Lifeboats (2nd ed.). Coventry: Lifeboat Enthusiast's Society. pp. 1–2.
  3. "Falmouth". The Cornubian and Redruth Times (1975). 26 April 1901. p. 5.
  4. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.6
  5. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.7
  6. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.17–18
  7. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.18–19
  8. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.14
  9. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.21–24
  10. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.27
  11. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.30–40
  12. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.45
  13. Leach, Nicholas (2006) [2000]. Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage. Chacewater: Twelveheads Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-906294-43-6.
  14. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.10
  15. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.16
  16. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.18
  17. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.20–21
  18. Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 190. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
  19. Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  20. Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 68.
  21. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.3
  22. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.4–7
  23. Denton, Tony (2009), pp.2–3
  24. Denton, Tony (2009), pp.12–13
  25. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.7–8
  26. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.8–9
  27. Denton, Tony (2009), pp.18–19
  28. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.10–15
  29. Denton, Tony (2009), pp.22–23
  30. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.15–17
  31. Denton, Tony (2009), pp.26–27
  32. Denton, Tony (2009), p.34
  33. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.14–15
  34. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.19–21
  35. Morris, Jeff (2002), p.25
  36. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.25–27
  37. Morris, Jeff (2002), pp.27-40
  38. "B Class Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat". Falmouth RNLI. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
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