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Selsey Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 50°43′38.0″N 0°46′43.9″W / 50.727222°N 0.778861°W / 50.727222; -0.778861
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Selsey Lifeboat Station
Selsey Lifeboat Station
Selsey Lifeboat Station is located in West Sussex
Selsey Lifeboat Station
Location of Selsey Lifeboat station within West Sussex
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationChichester District, South East England, West Sussex
CountryEngland
Coordinates50°43′38.0″N 0°46′43.9″W / 50.727222°N 0.778861°W / 50.727222; -0.778861
Opened1861
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Selsey Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station[1] located in Selsey, West Sussex on the south coast of England.[2]

The station operates a Shannon-class lifeboat 13-20 Denise and Eric (ON 1327), launched via the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) from the main boathouse onshore at Kingsway, Selsey. The station also operates a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat, RNLB Flt Lt John Buckley RAF (D-827).

In 2017, Selsey received a new 25 knot (29 mph) Shannon Class Lifeboat after almost 34 years of service by Tyne-class lifeboats RNLB City of London (ON 1074) and RNLB Voluntary Worker (ON 1146) the longest of any RNLI station.

History

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1861–World War II

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The lifeboat service in Selsey was established in 1861 with RNLB The Friend, which was launched from the beach by means of skids.[3] For the station's first 25 years the lifeboat's Coxswain was James Lawrence.[4]

In 1925 work began on the construction of a new boathouse built on a piled platform with a gangway from the shore, which had a trolley track. In 1927 the boathouse was re-built again to house the station's new motor lifeboat.[5]

During the Second World War, the station's crew and lifeboats were involved in many rescues. Watson-class lifeboat RNLB Canadian Pacific (ON 803) launched approximately 50 times, often to rescue pilots from fallen aeroplanes.[6][7] On 11 July 1940, the lifeboat rescued John Peel, the commanding officer of RAF 145 Squadron, minutes after he abandoned his damaged Hurricane (P3400) off Selsey Bill.[8][9]

1952–1987: improvements and inshore service

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The 1958 boat house, pictured here in 2009, was demolished in 2017.

Between 1952 and 1953, the boathouse's substructure was strengthened and the slipway was lengthened. The boathouse was rebuilt in 1958 with reinforced concrete as the old structure had become unsafe due to years of coastal erosion. The deep water roller slipway was re-configured to have a gradient of 1:5, and the station was given a newly fabricated steel approach gangway from the shore.[10]

In March 1968, an inshore lifeboat rescue division was established at Selsey.[11] The new inshore lifeboat was launched on a newly constructed gangway to the eastern side of the main slipway.[11] The first inshore lifeboat was a D-class lifeboat.[12] RNLB Canadian Pacific (ON 803) was withdrawn from Selsey in 1969 to serve in the RNLI relief fleet. Then in 1977 she was sold out of the service.[13]

A new boathouse was constructed for the inshore lifeboat in 1987.[5]

2011–present: 150th anniversary and onwards

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In 2011, the RNLI celebrated Selsey's 150th anniversary as a continuously active lifeboat station.[14]

In the summer of 2017, a new Selsey boathouse was built on shore at the Kingsway, which allowed all elements of the RNLI at Selsey to come together on a single site for the first time. The old Slipway station was demolished and removed between June and July 2017. In July 2017, the station received a new Shannon-class lifeboat, Denise and Eric, and the Tyne-class lifeboat Voluntary Worker was retired and sold out of service.

Selsey Lifeboats

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All-weather lifeboats

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ON[a] Op.No.[b]. Name In service[15] Class Comments
– – Friend 1861–1865 29-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S) [16]
– – Friend
Four Sisters 		1865–1885 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) [16]
37 – John and Henry Skynner 1885–1896 34-foot 5in Self-righting (P&S)
360 – Lucy Newbon 1894–1919 40-foot Self-righting (P&S) Selsey (Bognor)
394 – Reserve No.3 1919–1922 40-foot Self-righting (P&S) Formerly Civil Service No.4 at Walmer
673 – Jane Holland 1922–1929 40-foot Self-righting (motor)
714 – Canadian Pacific 1929–1937 45ft 6in Watson Formerly H.F.Bailey II, Cromer No.1.
Destroyed by fire at Groves & Guttridge boatyard 18 June 1937
671 – The Brothers 1937–1938 45ft Watson Relief fleet boat. Ex Penlee, Falmouth
803 – Canadian Pacific 1938–1969 46ft Watson Replacement for ON 714
1015 48-12 Charles Henry 1969–1983 48-foot 6in Oakley Mk.II
1074 47-001 City of London 1983–2006 Tyne
1146 47-031 Voluntary Worker 2006–2017 Tyne Ex Lytham St. Annes
1327 13-20 Denise and Eric 2017– Shannon Carriage launched from onshore new boathouse

Inshore Lifeboats

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Op.No.[b] Name In service [15] Class Comments
D-164 Unnamed 1968–1970 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-138 Unnamed 1970–1980 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-277 Sea Lion 1981–1989 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-382 unnamed 1989–1998 D-class (EA16)
D-533 Peter Cornish 1998–2008 D-class (EA16)
D-691 Betty and Thomas Moore 2008–2018 D-class (IB1)
D-827 Flt Lt John Buckley RAF 2018– D-class (IB1) [17]

Shannon launch and recovery system (SLARS)

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Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Name Type In service [15] Comments
SC-T12 HJ16 JRU Miss Eileen Beryl Phillips SLARS (Clayton) 2017–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Station Honours

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The following are among the RNLI medals and other awards presented to crew members from Selsey Lifeboat Station:[18]

Award Date Name Award Note & Reference
May 1886 Coxswain James 'Pilot' Lawrence RNLI Silver Medal 25 Years Service[4]
June 1930 The Lifeboat crew members Thanks on Vellum
June 1930 Coxswain Frederick Barnes Bronze Medal Rescue of the Lucy B of Rye[19]
April 1950 Crewman William Arnell Thanks on Vellum & Maud Smith Award for Bravest Act
November 1951 Coxswain Leslie Pennycord RNLI Bronze Medal Rescue of the MV Swift of Costa Rica.[20]
July 1956 The Lifeboat crew members Thanks on Vellum Triple Rescue of the Maalust, Bloodhound and Coima[21]
Coxswain Douglas Grant RNLI Silver Medal
January 1961 Selsey Lifeboat Station Centenary Vellum – RNLI
December 1977 The Lifeboat crew members Vellum service certificate
December 1977 Acting Coxswain Mike Grant Thanks on Vellum
December 1978 The Lifeboat crew members Vellum service certificate
December 1978 Coxswain Mike Grant Thanks on Vellum
January 1979 The Lifeboat crew members Medal service certificate Rescue of the SS Cape Coast of Panama[21]
Coxswain Mike Grant RNLI Silver Medal
September 1983 The Lifeboat crew members Medal service certificate The rescue of Enchantress of Hamble[22]
Coxswain Mike Grant RNLI Silver Medal (Second)
October 1983 Dave Munday Ralph Glister Award for Meritorious Service
Tony Delahunty
Nigel Osborn
October 1983 The ILB crew members Framed letter of thanks
October 1983 Helmsman Dave Munday RNLI Bronze Medal The rescue of the Joan Maureen[23]
March 1984 Mechanic Ron Wells 25 years Service Award and the British Empire Medal
May 1984 D Cockayn – hon. Sec. 20 years Service Gold Badge
January 1988 Molly Woods 30 years Service Gold Badge
January 1995 Ron Carbines Dedicated Service Gold Badge
January 1998 Dr Andrew Warwick – Medical Officer Dedicated Service Gold Badge
January 1999 Jean Warwick Dedicated Service Gold Badge
Clive Cockayne
January 2011 Selsey Lifeboat Station 150 years Vellum 150 years as a continuously active lifeboat station[14]
January 2012 Clive Cockayne Bar to Dedicated Service Gold Badge

Neighbouring station locations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station website". Home page of station website – RNLI. ©2014 RNLI. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. ^ Chichester, South Harting, and Selsey OS Explorer Map 120 Folded Map. Publisher: Ordnance Survey; B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009.ISBN 978 0319 4676 26
  3. ^ Mee, Frances (1988). A History of Selsey. Chichester, Sussex: Philimore. p. 58. ISBN 0-85033-672-4.
  4. ^ a b Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 178 – James Lawrence – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
  5. ^ a b Mee, Frances (1988). A History of Selsey. Chichester, Sussex: Philimore. p. 62. ISBN 0-85033-672-4.
  6. ^ Strong To Save – Dramatic first-hand accounts of the RNLI lifeboat rescues around the British Isles. Authors: Kipling, Ray and Susannah. Publisher:Patrick Stephens Ltd. Date: 1998 Third print. Work: Chapter 3, The Second World War – under fire, Page 57, reference to Selsey helping Airmen. ISBN 1 85260 495 6
  7. ^ "Watson class lifeboats". Reference to Watson-class lifeboat Canadian Pacific. ©2014 NavyNuts. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Obituary — Group Captain John Peel". Daily Telegraph – Obituary for Group Captain John Peel – reference to his rescue. ©2014 Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  9. ^ Shot Down And In The Drink – RAF and Commonwealth aircrews saved from the sea 1939-1945. Author:Pitchfork, Graham. Publisher:The National Archives – Date: 2005. work: Chapter 7, The first three years, Page 80, ISBN 1 903365 87 2
  10. ^ Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Authur: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: Patrick Stephens Ltd – Haynes Publishing Group 1992. Work: Chapter 18, The Lifeboat Stations, South and West Britain and Ireland, page 171, Selsey. ISBN 1 85260 419 0
  11. ^ a b For Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 2, South Coast of England – Eastbourne to Weston-super-Mare, Page 75, Selsey. ISBN 1 85794 129 2
  12. ^ Mellon, Harry (1968). "Selsey Lifeboat". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  13. ^ National Historic Ships UK (2018). "Canadian Pacific". National Historic Ships. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Selsey Lifeboat Station News — Vellum Awarded for 150 Years of Service Made by Selsey Lifeboat". News of the 150 year celebration on the station’s website. Selsey Lifeboat Station. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  15. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  16. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021 (2021 ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  17. ^ "The sun was shining on Selsey RNLI's naming ceremony today". RNLI. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  18. ^ RNLI Selsey: Station history
  19. ^ Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 262 – Frederick Barnes – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
  20. ^ Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 310 – Leslie Pennycord – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
  21. ^ a b Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 318 – Douglas Grant – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
  22. ^ Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 380 – Mike Grant – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
  23. ^ Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 380 – Dave Munday – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat.ISBN 0 907605 89 3
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