Skegness Lifeboat Station is located at Tower Esplanade, in the town of Skegness, on the east coast of England, south of the Humber Estuary and north of The Wash, in the county of Lincolnshire.[1]
A station was first opened at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire in 1825, by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS). The station was moved to Skegness just five years later in 1830.[2]
The station currently operates an All-weather Shannon-class lifeboat, 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill (ON 1324), on station since 2017, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, The Holland Family (D-842), on station since 2019.[2]
History
In 1825, just one year after its founding by Sir William Hillary Bt., the RNIPLS
decided to establish a lifeboat station at Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire. This stretch of the British coastline has many shoals and constantly changing sandbanks, many of which lie between the town and the East Dudgeon Lightship.[3] A boathouse was constructed, and a 24-foot non-self-righting Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat was provided, built by William Plenty of Newbury, Berkshire, at a cost of £130.[4]
In 1827, the management of the station was passed to the newly created Lincolnshire Coast Shipwreck Association, which was founded on 31 July.[5]
On 20 January 1830, the sloopThomas and Mary of Wells-next-the-Sea ran aground on the Skegness Middle Sand. Some difficulty was encountered launching the Gibraltar Point lifeboat into the rough conditions, not helped by a broken carriage wheel. Two crewmen aboard the Thomas and Mary were lost, but the rest were rescued by the lifeboat.[6]
Following the wreck of the Thomas and Mary in 1830, it was decided to relocate the lifeboat to Skegness. The lifeboat station at Gibraltar Point was closed, and the boathouse was dismantled. A new station was created at Skegness, just 3 mi (5 km) to the north, with the boathouse being reconstructed among the sand dunes, at a location now called Lifeboat Avenue. The cost of removing the boathouse was £28.00[4]
On 18 October 1854, the lifeboat crew launched to assist the stricken brigAtlanta, which had been driven onto the shore in a gale, three miles north of Skegness. The Skegness lifeboat had to be drawn to the beach from her station by six horses. All aboard the Atlanta were rescued. Coxswain Samuel Moody was awarded his second RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue.[7]
By 1863, the lifeboats of the LCSA, Donna Nook, Theddlethorpe, Sutton, and Skegness, were all becoming worn out, and in need of replacement. Larger self-righting lifeboats were now available, but all locations would then need a bigger boathouse, all beyond the finances of the LCSA. At a meeting of Rev. J. Arlington of the LCSA, and Capt. John Ward, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats, it was agreed that, effective from January 1864, the responsibility and replacement of the four lifeboats and boathouses would be undertaken by the RNLI. The total cost was £2,054-15-9d, with £600 coming from the LCSA. Skegness would receive a 30-foot (8-oared) self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, which would be named Herbert Ingram. A new boathouse was constructed on South Parade, close to the clock tower.[4]
On 5 December 1875, the lifeboat Herbert Ingram launched at 6:00am to the aid of the ColchesterbargeStar, which had been driven aground in a gale. The lifeboat took twenty minutes to reach the vessel. Two crewmen were taken off, but the Master fell into the water between the two boats. Two lifeboat crewmen went into the rough water with a line and held on to the Master whilst the lifeboat was rowed to shore. For their bravery in this rescue both lifeboat crewmen were awarded RNLI silver medals.[8]
In 1882, William Everington retired from his position of Honorary Secretary, which he held since the takeover by the RNLI. He was succeeded by Charles Fred Grantham, aged just 22, who would hold the position for the next 40 years.[4]
A new lifeboat was placed at Skegness in 1888, a 37-foot lifeboat named Ann, John and Mary (ON 203), funded from the legacy of Mrs Ann Ball of London. In 1892, a new boathouse was constructed on the site of the old boathouse at South Parade.This boathouse had access doors for the lifeboat at either end of the building. There was also a watch room constructed on the first floor. This station was in use until 1990 when it was sold to a private buyer.[2][4]
Matthew Grunnill would be appointed Coxswain of Skegness lifeboat in 1908. He had previously served at Chapel Lifeboat Station, first as crew, and then, following the retirement of his father Edward Grunnill, as Coxswain, until the stations closure in 1898.[9]
On 9 November 1912, the Norwegian brigAzha suffered heavy storm damage off the Humber estuary. Waterlogged and helpless, she drifted south for four days. Her crew were close to death when she was spotted, having run aground on the Skegness Middle Sand. The Samuel Lewis (ON 554), the station's last pulling and sailing lifeboat, was launched to assist. Despite the severe weather, the lifeboat managed to get alongside the Azha and take off her crew. The brig was breaking up and was abandoned. The Coxswain and Second Coxswain were awarded silver medals and given written thanks by King Haakon VII of Norway.[3]
Samuel Lewis was replaced in 1932 by the Anne Allen (ON 760). This 35-foot 6in non-self-righting (single engine) Liverpool-class lifeboat was the first motor-powered lifeboat at Skegness. The placement of motor lifeboats at Humber, Wells-next-the-Sea and Skegness, brought about the closure of other east coast lifeboat stations, such as Donna Nook and Hunstanton.[2]
The RNLI placed an Inshore lifeboat (ILB) at Skegness in May 1964, a D-class (RFD PB16) (D-15). The ILB was kept in a small house close to the main beach until 1990.[2]
In 1990, it was decided that the cover for this area of the Lincolnshire coast would be greatly improved with the placing of a Mersey-class All-weather lifeboat at Skegness. A new station was constructed on the Tower Esplanade, the first in the British Isles built especially for a Mersey-class lifeboat. The Inshore lifeboat was also housed within the same building, which also has improved crew and equipment facilities, and a souvenir shop to help with branch fundraising.[10]
On 20 May 2016, the Skegness D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Peterborough Beer Festival IV (D-739) was taking part in a search for a missing person, when a fire started on board, which spread rapidly. After issuing a mayday, the crew abandoned the vessel, swimming 200 yd (180 m) to shore, while the lifeboat sank. The RNLI started recovery operations, but the damage was severe.[11][12]
In May 2017, Shannon-class lifeboat 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill (ON 1324) officially replaced the Mersey-class lifeboat Lincolnshire Poacher. The new lifeboat cost £2.2 million. She was launched at the All-weather Lifeboat Centre at Poole on 9 September 2016, delivered to Skegness on 28 January 2017, and officially named on 27 May 2017. Funding came from the legacy of Joel Grunnill, and a donation from his cousin April Grunnill, both of whom had been volunteers with the station.[13]
In 2019, D-class (IB1) lifeboat The Holland Family (D-842) was donated by Robert Holland, in honour of his parents and wider family, who have been long-term volunteers at the station.[14]
Notable rescues
On 27 December 1965, the BPjackup oil rigSea Gem collapsed, approximately 47 miles north-west off the Norfolk town of Cromer. The Skegness Oakley-class lifeboat Charles Fred Grantham (ON 977), along with lifeboats from Humber, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, was launched the following day to search for the 32 crew. The search lasted 14 hours, in high seas, freezing conditions, and gale-force winds. 19 of the Sea Gem crew were rescued, five confirmed deceased, and eight were never recovered. The RNLI sent the station a letter of appreciation for their part in the search.[4][10][15]
^"Ship News". The Times. No. 14137. London. 30 January 1830. col F, p. 5.
^Lifeboat Gallantry – RNLI Medals and how they were won. Author:Cox, Barry. Publisher:Spink & Son Ltd and the RNLI. Work: Page 109, MOODY, Samuel. ISBN0-907605-89-3
^Lifeboat Gallantry – RNLI Medals and how they were won. Author:Cox, Barry. Publisher:Spink & Son Ltd and the RNLI. Work: Page 160, MOODY, Samuel. CHESNUTT, George. ISBN0-907605-89-3
^ abFor Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 1, East Coast of England – Berwick to Hastings, Page 42, Skegness. ISBN1 85794 129 2
^Lifeboats of the Humber – Two centuries of gallantry. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher:Amberley Publishing, first edition 2010. Work: Chapter 8, The last Watson Lifeboat, page72. ISBN978 1 84868 875 9
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