A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1843 by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS). When a lifeboat was placed at Hauxley in 1852, which was considered a more suitable location for the Warkworth Harbour lifeboat, the station at Amble was closed.
Amble lifeboat station was re-opened, and Hauxley station closed, when a motor-powered lifeboat was placed at Amble by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1939.[1]
The station currently operates a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, 13-16 Elizabeth and Leonard (ON 1323), on station since 2016, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Alf and Dora Whiting (D-867) since 2022.[1]
History
The early history of Amble Lifeboat Station is somewhat confused, with conflicting reports and dates. It is reported that a lifeboat was first placed at Amble by the RNIPLS in 1842, but it is known that the boat Blythe, formerly at Blyth, was only placed for sale
by the Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association in March 1843, subsequently acquired by the RNIPLS and placed at Amble. The lifeboat had capsized on service at Blyth in 1841, with the loss of 10 lifeboatmen.[2][3]
In order to comply with the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, the harbour commissioners were required by law to provide a lifeboat and other rescue equipment. At a time when the RNIPLS was in decline, a lifeboat and Manby Rocket equipment were provided to Warkworth Harbour by the Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association in 1847, and a boathouse was constructed by the harbour commissioners. With no records available, it must therefore be concluded that this was required because the Blythe was no longer fit for service.[2][4]
For some time, it was considered that Hauxley would be a far better place to locate the Warkworth Harbour lifeboat, and a station was opened at Hauxley in 1852 by the Newcastle Shipwreck Association. A new boat was provided to Hauxley named Warkworth. In order to comply with the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, Warkworth Harbour Commissioners would pay a £10 annual subscription for its upkeep.[2]
By 1852, The Duke of Northumberland, who had been a driving force behind the Newcastle Shipwreck Association (NSA), was now president of a much improved RNIPLS, and the NSA transferred management of all its lifeboats to the RNIPLS in 1853. In 1854, the RNIPLS became the RNLI. A new boat was provided to Hauxley in 1855, and the Warkworth was transferred to Bridlington.[5]
The Amble station was to close. Some documents say this happened in 1852 when Hauxley opened, and some say 1856. It would appear that some of the conflicting dates of closure of Amble, are because the old NSA lifeboat was never actually removed, and left at Amble until 1856. Even then, it is reported that the Hauxley lifeboat Warkworth replaced the old NSA boat, ending up back at Amble from 1856 to 1860, when it was overwhelmingly rejected by the Bridlington lifeboat crew.[2]
Former Amble Rother-class lifeboat 37-30 Harold Salvesen
In the 1930s, the number of men at Hauxley available to crew the lifeboat was in decline, and the fishing industry there had suffered when Druridge Bay started being used by the RAF for target practice. With Hauxley not suitable for a motor-lifeboat, it was decided that when one was available, Amble would re-open, and Hauxley would be closed. The Amble station reopened in 1939, with the arrival of a 45ft Watson-class lifeboat, the Frederick and Emma (ON 659), previously on service at Wick.[1][2][6]
On 5 February 1941, the Government cargo steamshipEmpire Breeze of Sunderland, on her maiden voyage, ran aground on Bondicar Rocks, south of Hauxley, whilst on passage from Scotland to America. All 42 crew were taken off by the Amble lifeboat, in 3 trips. The ship was later refloated, and repaired, returning to service until 25 August 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk in mid-atlantic.[7]
Pinnace 1386 Memorial
An increase in water leisure activity in the 1950s and 60s prompted the RNLI to introduce a small fast inshore D-class lifeboat (ILB) at stations around the country. D-51 was placed at Amble in 1966.[1]
On 29 September 1969, the HMAFV Pinnace 1386 Hullat capsized off the north pier, with seven men aboard. In rough conditions, the ILB was immediately dispatched, and the crew managed to rescue two men clinging to the upturned boat, returning them to the harbour. The 46ft Watson-class lifeboat Millie Watson (ON 848) arrived, rescuing a third man. With knocking heard from inside the upturned boat, it was decided to attempt to tow the boat to better water. Meanwhile, two local divers were taken out to the boat aboard the ILB. Despite everyone's best efforts, access to the boat was impossible. Navy divers from Rosythe later managed to cut a hole in the hull, and rescued the one man left inside. Four RNLI Bronze Medals were awarded to lifeboat crew, two being the first ever awarded to the crew of an Inshore lifeboat.[8]
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