Silloth Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Lawn Terrace, in Silloth, a port town sitting on the Solway Firth, approximately 20 miles (32 km) due west of Carlisle, on the north west coast of Cumbria.[1]
The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828), on station since 2008.[2]
History
In agreement with the local population, who had made a significant financial contribution towards the cost of a boathouse and carriage, and who had agreed to maintain the service jointly with the RNLI, a new lifeboat station was established at Silloth in 1860. The cost of a new lifeboat had been met by well-known philanthropist Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts. A 30-foot x 7-foot Self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat. one with oars and sails, was placed on station, and named Angela and Hannah.[2][3]
In 1867, the Angela and Hannah was found to be unfit, and withdrawn from service. Transported by both the London and North-Western, and North British railway companies free of charge, a replacement 32-foot lifeboat was placed at Silloth. The lifeboat was again named Angela and Hannah, after Miss Burdett-Coutts and her sister.[4]
The Silloth lifeboat Angela and Hannah was launched at 07:30 on 24 January 1876 into gale-force conditions, to the schoonerTweed, on passage from Falmouth to Silloth, when she struck Powfoot Bank. With waves breaking over both vessels, 5 crew and the pilot were rescued. The lifeboat was towed back in by the Steam tugArabian.[5][6][7]
In 1885, a new 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat was placed at Silloth. A gift of Miss Annie F Howis of Tulse Hill, and on her direction, the boat was named Emma Frisby (ON 81).[8]
At a meeting of the RNLI management committee on Thursday 13 August 1896, following a report by district inspectors, a one-line entry records "Decided that the Silloth Life-boat station be discontinued". The station was duly closed, and the lifeboat Emma Frisby (ON 81) was sold.[2][9][10]
In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.[11]
More stations were opened, and in August 1967, a lifeboat station was re-established at Silloth, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-146). The old boathouse was re-acquired, and converted to house the Inshore lifeboat. In 1975, the lifeboat was upgraded to the C-class, a larger faster twin-engined version of the D-class boat.[2][10]
The C-class lifeboat was replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat, assigned to Silloth in 1979. Developed at Atlantic College in partnership with the RNLI, the Atlantic 21-class was the first generation of rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to be placed in service. The relief lifeboat Major Osman Gabriel (B-505) was placed at Silloth for a short time, until the permanent lifeboat Amelia Gregory Armstrong (B-545) arrived in 1980. The boathouse was extended to accommodate the launch tractor.[2][10]
On 19 March 1994, a 'Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' was awarded to Helm David Litt, for his seamanship and courage bringing the lifeboat through rocks in four-foot breaking waves to rescue three boys stranded at Southerness Point.[10]
In 1994, a new larger B-class (Atlantic 75) was assigned to the station. A new boathouse was constructed on the site of the old one, in order to accommodate the larger boat and launch tractor. Crew facilities were much improved, along with a new crew-room and lookout, and a retail outlet for souvenirs. A new slipway was also constructed. The cost of the lifeboat had been met by the fundraisers from the Lake District raising £20,000, and an appeal at Silloth and Carlisle raising £41,000. At a ceremony on 11 October 1995, the boathouse was formally opened by H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent, who then named the lifeboat Spirit of Cumbria (B-714).[12]
Helm Steven Henderson was awarded a 'Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' in 2002, for his command of the lifeboat during the rescue of two people from the yacht Susilla, in difficulty in force 7–8 winds, on 26 November, 2002.[10]
Spirit of Cumbria (B-714) served the station for 13 years. Funded from the bequest of the late Mr Donald Wilkinson, she was replaced by a new B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat, Elaine and Don Wilkinson (B-828), placed on service on Saturday 15 November 2008.[2]
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