Bournemouth Lifeboat Station
| Bournemouth Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
Bournemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station 1971 | |
Bournemouth, Dorset | |
| General information | |
| Status | Closed |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | Bournemouth Pier, Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5AA, England |
| Coordinates | 50°42′57.5″N 1°52′33.1″W / 50.715972°N 1.875861°W |
| Opened | 1965 |
| Closed | 1972 |
Bournemouth Lifeboat Station was located underneath the pier at Bournemouth, a town and seaside resort approximately 30 miles south-west of Southampton, on the south coast of England, in the ceremonial county of Dorset.
A lifeboat was first placed at Bournemouth in 1965, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[1]
After just 7 years of operation, Bournemouth lifeboat station was closed in 1972.[1]
History
In 1962, the number of rescues or attempted rescues by All-weather lifeboats in the summer months was 98, with the number of lives rescued being 133. In 1963, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI began trials of small fast Inshore lifeboats, placed at various locations around the country. This quickly proved to be very successful. In 1963, there were 226 rescues or attempted rescues in the summer months, as a result of which 225 lives were saved.[2]
In 1964, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, and were ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.[3]
More stations were opened, and in May 1965, a lifeboat station was established at Bournemouth, with the arrival of an unnamed D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, (D-47).[4]
A station was provided in the form of a store-room or garage, located directly underneath the shore end of Bournemouth Pier. This was provided by the local council, at no cost to the Institution.[5]
As with nearly all Inshore stations at the time, the boats were initially on service for just the summer months. This resulted in a turnover of lifeboats, with D-15 being placed on station in 1967, and D-152 in 1968.[4]
It is generally regarded that the lifeboat crew at Bournemouth were made up of local police officers, although no specific documentary evidence has been found to prove this. However, the sole successful rescue of 1968 was carried out by a Police Sergeant and Police Constable.[6]
The station operated for just seven years, closing in 1972. The lifeboats had been launched 46 times, saving three lives.[5]
Notable Rescue
At 04:47 on 19 May 1968, a call was made from Southbourne Coastguard to the Bournemouth police station. The lifeboat was launched at 04:55, to the motor boat Clipper, reported on fire off Durley Chine.[6]
On arrival on scene, the flames were soon extinguished, but nobody was found on board. Returning to a previously sighted oil slick, by now 05:15 and daylight, a man was spotted in the water, who indicated his son was also in the water, suffering from burns and shock. The boy and then the man were retrieved from the water, with a third man rescued 400 yards off shore. All three were landed and dispatched to hospital, before the crew returned to recover the boat. Awards were made to the two police officers for the rescue.[6]
Station honours
The following are awards made at Bournemouth.
- The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum[6]
- PS Douglas H. Carter, helm – 1968
- PC Arthur Edward Farley, crew member – 1968
- The Ralph Glister Award 1968[7]
(for the most meritorious service of the year performed by a rescue boat crew)
- PS Douglas H. Carter, helm – 1969
- PC Arthur Edward Farley, crew member – 1969
Bournemouth lifeboats
D-class Inshore lifeboats
| Op. No.[a] | Name | On station[4] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-47 | Unnamed | 1965–1967 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-16 | Unnamed | 1967–1968 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-152 | Unnamed | 1968–1972 | D-class (RFD PB16) |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat.
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. p. 102.
- ^ "Notes of the Quarter". The Lifeboat. 37 (406): 553. December 1963. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Leonard & Denton 2026, p. 68.
- ^ a b "Station Historical Notes" (Document). RNLI. 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Policemen In IRB Rescue". The Lifeboat. XLI (425): 436. September 1968. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ "The Ralph Glister Award". The Lifeboat. XLI (428): 612. June 1969. Retrieved 12 March 2026.