Lowestoft Lifeboat Station

Lowestoft Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) operated lifeboat station in the town of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The station is located at the mouth of Lowestoft's outer harbour on the South pier. It is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1801.[1]

Lowestoft Lifeboat Station
Lowestoft Lifeboat Station.
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationLowestoft, Suffolk
CountryEngland
Coordinates52°28′18″N 1°45′11″E
OwnerRoyal National Lifeboat Institution

History

The station was established in 1801, when a lifeboat built by Henry Greathead began operating from the town. In 1807 the station became the first to operate a sailing lifeboat, the Frances Anne, which operated until 1850 and saved over 300 lives.[1] The RNLI took control of the station in 1855.[1] A second station operated in the town between 1870 and 1912, whilst the South Broads Lifeboat Station, an inshore station, operated at Oulton Broad between 2001 and 2011.[2]

Crews from Lowestoft have received 45 awards for gallantry, including 39 medals. The RNLI Gold Medal has been awarded twice. The first award was to Lieutenant R B Matthews RN in October 1827. Coxswain John Swan was the second recipient, for his actions during the rescue of the crew of the merchant ship SS Hopelyn, wrecked on North Scroby Sands in October 1922.[1] The lifeboat Michael Stephens took part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.[1]

Fleet
RNLB Spirit of Lowestoft 47-020
Dates in service Class ON Op. No. Name
1921–1939 46ft 6in Norfolk and Suffolk-class ON 663 Agnes Cross
1939–1963 46ft Watson-class ON 838 Michael Stephens
1963–1986 47ft Watson-class ON 970 Frederick Edward Crick
1986–1987 52ft Barnett-class ON 924 Archibald and Alexandra M. Paterson
1987–2014 Tyne-class ON 1132 47-020 Spirit of Lowestoft
2014–present Shannon-class ON 1312 13-05 Patsy Knight

References
  1. Lowestoft Lifeboat Station, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  2. RNLI closes South Broads lifeboat station at Oulton Broad, BBC news website, 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
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