Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 53°33′25.2″N 0°01′23.8″W / 53.557000°N 0.023278°W / 53.557000; -0.023278
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Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station
RNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressThe Promenade
Town or cityCleethorpes, Lincolnshire, DN35 8SE
CountryEngland
Coordinates53°33′25.2″N 0°01′23.8″W / 53.557000°N 0.023278°W / 53.557000; -0.023278
OpenedAugust 1868 / 1980
Closed1882
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Cleethorpes RNLI Lifeboat Station

Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station is located on the Central Promenade, in the seaside town of

River Humber estuary, in north east Lincolnshire
.

An Inshore lifeboat was first stationed at Cleethorpes by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1868.[1]

The station currently operates a

B-class (Atlantic 85) is scheduled to be placed at the station in 2024.[2]

History

In 1868, The RNLI acceded to a request by local residents, that the Institution place a lifeboat at Cleethorpes. It was felt that a lifeboat was suited to Cleethorpes, as any ships running aground on the flat shore whilst trying to enter the

River Humber, were usually out of reach of the rocket lines of the Rocket Brigade. A boathouse was constructed, and a 33-foot lifeboat and carriage were provided, all funded by the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity. Prior to its arrival, the lifeboat was exhibited at both The Crystal Palace and Windsor, before being transported to Grimsby, from where it was drawn in a grand parade to Cleethorpes. It was reported that 70,000 attended the naming ceremony, where the lifeboat, a 'Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was duly named Manchester Unity. A demonstration of the self-righting abilities of the boat then took place.[3]

In a severe gale of 15 November 1878, the brigantine Sea Flower of Seaham ran aground on the Hale Sand, near Donna Nook. The Donna Nook lifeboat was got ready, but before she could launch, the vessel got away again. The following day, distress signals were seen once again, but this time, the Cleethorpes lifeboat Manchester Unity was launched. Some injury and damage was sustained when the Ship's boat landed on the lifeboat, but all the crew were rescued and brought ashore.[4][5]

The long flat shore thought suitable for a lifeboat, was actually proving difficult for launching, and with extra problems finding sufficient crew members, the Cleethorpes lifeboat Station was closed in January 1882. The Manchester Unity was transferred to a new station established at Grimsby.[6]

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.[7]

One of the stations provided with an Inshore lifeboat was Humber. The D-class (RFD PB16) lifeboat D-56 was placed on station in 1964, but the location was found to be unsuitable. On 1 August 1965, the lifeboat was transferred to the new Humber Mouth Lifeboat Station, located at the Humber Mouth Yacht Club at Humberston. The lifeboat would be relocated to the Humberston Holiday Camp in 1967. After 14 years operations, the D-class lifeboat was withdrawn in 1979, and Humber Mouth Lifeboat Station officially closed in March 1980.[1][8]

An independent lifeboat service operated at Cleethorpes after the closure of the RNLI station, but an increasing number of calls prompted the reopening of an RNLI station on 29 June 1987. £45,000 was raised locally to re-establish the station, this time taking the original name of Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station.[9]

Launching Cleethorpes lifeboat.

On the 30 July 1989, the Inshore lifeboat was called to 5 canoeists, caught out in a sudden

RNLI Bronze Medal. Crew members Steven Burton and Martin Kennedy were accorded 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum', and all three received 'The Ralph Glister Award 1989', for the most meritorious service of the year performed by a rescue boat crew.[10][11]

Cleethorpes would become the sixth station to receive one of the lifeboats funded by the appeals held on the BBC Television children's programme Blue Peter. Following the 'Pieces of Eight' appeal, Tricentrol II (D-325) was withdrawn on 22 February 1994, and replaced by Blue Peter VI (D-454). A naming ceremony was held on 16 July 1994, the lifeboat being handed over to Cleethorpes lifeboat by Blue Peter presenter Anthea Turner, followed by a fly-past of the Air-Sea rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield.[12]

In a joint rescue with both the

RNLI Silver Medals, and the 'James Michael Bower Endowment Fund award' for this service.[13]

Construction of a new lifeboat station for Cleethorpes began in April 2022, with work being placed on hold in February 2023, after the collapse of the contractor Tolent. Work has now recommenced, and it is expected to be completed in Winter 2024. A new

B-class (Atlantic 85) will then be placed on service in addition to the D-class.[14]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Cleethorpes.[1][10][15]

  • RNLI Silver Medal
Gary Barlow, Helm – 2004
  • James Michael Bower Endowment Fund award
Gary Barlow, Helm – 2004
  • RNLI Bronze Medal
David L. Steenvoorden, Helm – 1990
Shaun Sonley, Helm – 2004
Ian Sanderson, crew member – 2004
Tony Salters, crew member – 2004
  • The Ralph Glister Award 1989
    (for the most meritorious service of the year performed by a rescue boat crew)
David L. Steenvoorden, Helm – 1990
Steven A. Burton, crew member – 1990
Martin J. Kennedy, crew member – 1990
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Steven A. Burton, crew member – 1990
Martin J. Kennedy, crew member – 1990
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Gary Barlow, crew member – 1996
Shane Johnson, crew member – 1997
  • A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
David L. Steenvoorden, Helm – 1990
N. Holroyd, Tractor Driver – 1990
T. Smith, Launcher – 1990
D. W. Richardson, crew member – 1990
M. A. Sweeney, crew member – 1990
M. J. Kennedy, crew member – 1990
M. N. Fowler, crew member – 1990
S. A. Burton, crew member – 1990
W. J. Barlow, crew member – 1990

Cleethorpes lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON[a] Name On Station[16] Class Comments
Pre-511 Manchester Unity 1868–1882 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Lifeboat transferred to Grimsby.
Station Closed in 1882
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 (Humber Mouth)

Op.No.[b] Name On Station[17] Class Comments
D-56 Unnamed 1965–1972 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-211 Unnamed 1973–1979 D-class (RFD PB16)
Station Closed in 1980

Inshore lifeboats (Cleethorpes)

D-class

Op.No.[b] Name On Station[18] Class Comments
D-325 Tricentrol II 1987–1994 D-class (EA16)
D-454 Blue Peter VI 1994–2004 D-class (EA16)
D-618 Blue Peter VI 2004–2012 D-class (IB1)
D-757 James Burgess II 2012–2024 D-class (IB1)
D-889 James and Deanna Adams 2024– D-class (IB1)

B-class

Op.No.[b] Name On Station[19] Class Comments
B-942 Loving You TBC
B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type On Station[20] Comments
TW06 VRU 611S Talus MB-764 County 2007–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c d Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 33-foot (10-Oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cleethorpes' station history". RNLI. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 127.
  3. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. VII (73): 237–238. 1 July 1869. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Donna Nook, Theddlethorpe and Cleethorpes". The Lifeboat. X (111): 427. 1 February 1879. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Shipping". Liverpool Mercury. No. 9624. Liverpool. 18 November 1878.
  6. ^ Morris, Jeff (October 1987). The Closed Lifeboat Stations of Lincolnshire. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–5.
  7. ^ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  8. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 116.
  9. ^ McNally, Matt (26 June 2017). "Thirty years of lifesaving in Cleethorpes". RNLI. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  10. ^
    ISBN 0907605893
    .
  11. ^ "Cleethorpes East Division". The Lifeboat. 51 (510): 192. Winter 1989. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Blue Peter VI" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 3 (529): 232. Autumn 1994. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Silver service at Cleethorpes and Number". The Lifeboat. 59 (569): 14–16. Autumn 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Work restarts on Cleethorpes lifeboat station". BBC. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Journal". The Lifesaving Awards Research Society (110): 69. August 2024.
  16. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 12–13.
  17. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 87–89.
  18. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 91–100.
  19. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 85.
  20. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 107.
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