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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Newbiggin Lifeboat Station

Newbiggin Lifeboat Station is located at Sandridge (street), in the seaside town and fishing port of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, on the east coast of the county of Northumberland.

A lifeboat station was first established at Newbiggin in 1851 by The Duke of Northumberland. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1852, becoming the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854.

The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Richard Wake Burdon (B-864), on station since 2012.

History

On the 22 March 1851, the fishing cobles of Newbiggin set out for a days work. Caught by a sudden storm, four boats were capsized, and 14 men drowned. For their gallantry and rescue efforts, resulting in the saving of two lives, five fishermen from Newbiggin were each awarded the Silver Medal from the RNIPLS.

The Duke of Northumberland, the driving force of the Newcastle Shipwreck Association, and soon to be president of the RNIPLS, ordered and funded a lifeboat house to be constructed on the shore at Newbiggin. In 1852, a 30-foot Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, named Latimer, was placed at the station by the RNIPLS, with them taking on management of the station.

The lifeboat Latimer was launched on 7 January 1854, to the aid of the vessel Embla of Norway, on passage from Setúbal, Portugal to Stavanger, when she wrecked off the coast of Northumberland. All 13 men aboard the Embla were lost. The lifeboat had launched without a full crew, and despite their best efforts, failed to reach the wreck. In recognition of their extraordinary efforts, Coxswain Philip Jefferson, one of the five fishermen recognised in 1851, was awarded a second-service clasp to his silver medal.

Coxswain John Brown was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, for the service to the steamship Northumberland, which ran aground in a severe gale on 14 October 1881. The lifeboat William Hopkinson of Brighouse rescued her crew of four.

In January 1927, the 37-foot Newbiggin lifeboat Ada Lewis (ON 566) was called to the Newbiggin fishing fleet. With most of the usual crew out fishing, the boat was manned with miners, who had just finished a shift at the local colliery. The boat would not have got away, without the extraordinary efforts of the 25 local women helpers, who ended up waist deep in water. They were collectively accorded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'.

It was decided to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat in 1981. The boathouse was modified to accommodate a new Atlantic 21-class lifeboat along with the Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor, and improved crew facilities were constructed in an extension. Oakley-class lifeboat 37-17 Mary Joicey (ON 984) was withdrawn on 26 February 1981, with the relief B-class (Atlantic 21) lifeboat Co-Operative No.1 (B-511) temporarily assigned to the station on 15 March 1981. The stations permanent lifeboat, Atlantic 21-class Kirklees (B-553) arrived in 1982.

Newbiggin Rocket House

Further modifications to the boathouse were required to house the larger B-class (Atlantic 75). Works were completed in July 1998, and RNLB CSMA 75th Anniversary (B-745) arrived on 3 August 1998, replacing Kirklees. On 19 September 2012, the Atlantic 85-class Richard Wake Burdon (B-864) was placed on service, costing £204,000, funded by the legacy from Mr Hylton Burdon, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, and named in honour of his elder brother Richard, who was lost at sea while serving with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

The Newbiggin Lifeboat House is the oldest boathouse still operated by the RNLI. Mention must be made of the Newbiggin Rocket House, whilst not managed by the RNLI, was constructed as an extension to the lifeboat house in 1866. In addition to lifeboats, many sea rescues were performed by the Rocket Brigade, who could effect rescues by firing rocket-powered lines to wrecks close to the shore. The Newbiggin Rocket House, was refurbished in its 150th anniversary year in 2016.

Notable Rescues

In a south east gale, and the extremely cold night of 4 February 1940, the 32-foot twin-engine Surf-class lifeboat Augustus and Laura (ON 810) was launched at 05:00 to the aid of the motor-vessel Eminent of Belgium, which had been forced to remain at sea, when the port at Newcastle-upon-Tyne closed due to the bad weather. The vessel had been driven ashore at Newbiggin Point. Unable to make headway, the lifeboat returned. In an extraordinary effort, 45 launchers then hauled to lifeboat overland to Newbiggin Point. The lifeboat was launched for the second time at 08:10, and all 11 crew were rescued. For their efforts, the women helpers of Newbiggin were again collectively awarded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'. Coxswain George Ralph Taylor received the RNLI Silver Medal

Station honours

The following are awards made at Newbiggin

John Dent - 1851
Philip Jefferson - 1851
William Armstrong - 1851
Henry Brown - 1851
Robert Armstrong - 1851
Philip Jefferson, Coxswain - 1854 (Second-Service clasp)
John Brown, Coxswain - 1881
John Brown, Coxswain - 1888 (Second-Service clasp)
George Ralph Taylor, Second Coxswain - 1940
William Robinson, Coxswain - 1926
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Watson Brown, Coxswain - 1914
The women helpers of Newbiggin - 1927
The women helpers of Newbiggin - 1940
George Dawson, assistant mechanic, acting coxswain - 1975
John Lisle Robinson, skipper of the fishing coble Margaret Lisle - 1975
George Dawson, Coxswain - 1976
  • Vellum Service Certificates
Each member of the lifeboat crew - 1975
Each member of the crew of fishing coble Margaret Lisle - 1975
Each member of the lifeboat crew - 1976

Roll of Honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Newbiggin lifeboat.

  • Collapsed and died after swimming out to a fishing boat heading for the rocks, 14 July 1972
Campbell Storey , Branch Chairman

Newbiggin lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON Op. No. Name In service Class Comments
Pre-256 Latimer 1852−1860 30-foot Self-righting (P&S)
Pre-380 Latimer 1860−1866 34-foot 6in Self-righting (P&S)
Pre-447 William Hopkinson of Brighouse 1866−1885 34-foot Self-righting (P&S)
3 Robert and Susan 1885−1906 37-foot Self-righting (P&S)
566 Ada Lewis 1906−1931 37-foot Self-righting (P&S)
619 Arthur R. Dawes 1931−1938 35-foot Self-righting Rubie (P&S)
810 Augustus and Laura 1938−1950 32-foot Surf
875 Richard Ashley 1950−1966 Liverpool
984 37-17 Mary Joicey 1966−1981 Oakley
All weather lifeboat withdrawn in 1981
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. Name In service Class Comments
B-511 Co-Operative No.1 1981−1982 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-553 Kirklees 1982−1998 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-745 CSMA 75th Anniversary 1998−2012 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-864 Richard Wake Burdon 2012− B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. Reg. No. Type In service Comments
TW03 RLJ 367R Talus MB-764 County 1981
TW09 PEL 169W Talus MB-764 County 1981–1992
TW21Hc J495 XUJ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 1992–1998
TW19Hc J120 VNT Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 1998–1999
TW21Hc J495 XUJ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 1999–2003
TW20Hc J125 WUJ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2003–2014
TW59Hc DU04 DVW Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2014–2015
TW22Hc K501 AUX Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2015–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  2. ^ 34-foot 6in Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  3. ^ 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  4. ^ 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  5. ^ 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat.
  6. ^ 35-foot Self-righting Dungeness-class (Rubie) (P&S) lifeboat.
  7. ^ 32-foot twin-engine Surf-class lifeboat.
  8. ^ 35-foot 6in Liverpool-class lifeboat.
  9. ^ 37-foot Oakley-class lifeboat.

References

  1. ^ "Northumberland Sheet LXV". Maps. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Newbiggin's station history". Newbiggin Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  4. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
  5. ^ Morris, Jeff (May 2000). The Closed Lifeboat Stations of Northunberland. Jeff Morris. pp. 39–44.
  6. ^ "The Admiralty Register of Wrecks for 1854". Hampshire Advertiser and Salisbury Guardian. No. 1683. Southampton. 1 December 1855. p. 4.
  7. ^ "Lifeboat Services". The Times. No. 30328. London. 18 October 1881. col F, p. 10.
  8. ^ "The Women of Newbiggin". The Lifeboat. XXVI (289): 381–382. February 1927. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  9. ^ Peacock, Lucy (29 April 2013). "RNLI Lifeboat named in honour of Wallsend man Hylton Burdon". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Newbiggin by the Sea's Rocket House". Newbiggin Maritime Centre. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Silver Medal Service at Newbiggin". The Lifeboat. War Years (1940): 38–39. 1940. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  12. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.