Posts relating to the management, history or operation of lifeboats
Our cover photo tonight captures the lovely scene of ‘Bonita’ anchored at Holy Island, photographed by D Beckett. Several members of the OGA60 Round Britain… Read More »OGA60 fleet: from the River Tay to Blyth
A dramatic, well-documented rescue takes place on the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, 7 September, 1838. The rescue of just nine survivors by lighthouse-keeper,… Read More »Grace Darling: a gallant rescue, 1838
The OGA60 Round Britain Cruise fleet enjoyed a blustery weekend on the River Tay, hosted by the Scotland Area of the OGA. ‘Windbreker’, ‘Bonita’, ‘Onward… Read More »OGA60 fleet: a stormy weekend in Dundee
Some of the OGA60 Round Britain fleet are visiting Portsoy this weekend for the Traditional Boat Festival. The cover photo for this post is taken… Read More »RNLI: two archive films, 1940 – 1950
This extract is from the Illustrated London News, 8 January 1853 and reports on a horrific shipwreck and explosion with the loss of 35 lives… Read More »Explosion on the Calf of Man, 1852
After an excellent welcome from the Bristol Channel Area OGA in Neyland, Milford Haven, seven boats from the OGA60 Round Britain Cruise fleet left on… Read More »OGA60 fleet departs Neyland
The OGA60 Round Britain fleet has left Falmouth and Newlyn, heading for South Wales. We hear from several skippers and crew of an early start… Read More »OGA60 Rounding Lands End
The Morecambe Fishermen’s Association provided their own lifeboats. The first was ‘Gyakhan’, a large rowing boat built in 1895, the year following the capsizing of the… Read More »‘Sir William Priestley’ lifeboat & replicas
This extract, illustrated with images from the Frank Sutcliffe Collection, introduces Henry Freeman, Whitby coxswain. Posing for the famous local photographer wearing the lifejacket that… Read More »New lifejacket design is lifesaver, 1861