RNLI Lifeboats Remembered

Earlier today I revisited the final resting berths off the 2 historic lifeboats that welcome people as they enter Hastings 'Old Town' via Old London Road. The first boat is the 100 year-old Priscilla MacBean, which was pulled up The Bourne on the 15th of November 2014 (blog), exactly 86 years to the day after the sad tragedy that befell her sister lifeboat the Mary Stanford of Rye, and the loss of her 17-strong crew (RNLI). So, really the stories here are not just about the 2 lifeboats berthed in this part of the 'Old Town' but of 3 lifeboats and their brave crews, plus fourth and fifth lifeboats, the one we now have in Hastings, the Richard and Caroline Colton, and her predecessor the Sealink Endeavour (blog), and the brave volunteers and crews who help to save and preserve lives more recently in Hastings and nearby waters, 5 lifeboats, and many more...

The second historic lifeboat you reach when coming down Old London Road into The Bourne is the 'Ghost of Dunkirk' the Cyril and Lilian Bishop, which helped to evacuate troops from Dunkirk near the beginning of World War II. She was also pulled up from the seafront a few years later, this time up through All Saints Street in June 2017 and is now berthed below All Saints Church on the corner with Harold Road (blog).

With much respect to RNLI lifeboat crews and volunteers past and present...

Leaving Hastings Tomorrow, RNLI 12-002...

Our previous lifeboat Sealink Endeavor RNLI 12-002, is leaving Hastings tomorrow morning 27th November; the planned launch between 07.30-08.00. She served 29 years from Hastings, being launched in emergencies 360 times, rescuing 363 people and saving 41 lives. She will be heading for the All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset, but with no other plans known yet for her future (facebook). Best wishes to her, and to the lifeboat crew who, of course, will remain... Respect. 

Lifeboats Changeover...

So, perhaps fittingly on the day former Hastings Lifeboat coxwain Fred White was laid to rest, the RNLI's longest serving lifeboat, the Sealink Endeavour, Mersey class RNLI 12-002, which served getting on for 30 years from Hastings, was retired from service, following 360 launches...

... Replaced overnight by the Shannon class RNLI 13-28, to be formally named the Richard & Caroline Colton next year, welcome again!

As ever my respect goes out to the crew of Hastings Lifeboat, mostly volunteers, who help to keep British waters safe, and to Fred White R.I.P. 

Hastings New Lifeboat...

No, not this one, this is the retiring soon Sealink Endeavour, which quite a while ago it was announced would be replaced by the Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat (blog). Well, many thanks to the Hastings Lifeboat twitter page, which has shared this website, at which you can follow the new boat's progress. Following their advice, look at bays 9 and 10, where you will notice, for now (above), she's in two halves!

With much respect to Hastings Lifeboat crew and volunteers, indeed to all RNLI staff and volunteers throughout the country.

New Lifeboat for Hastings!

After months of concern about the continuation of the full lifeboat service in Hastings, it has been confirmed that a new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat is replacing the retiring boat, Sealink Endeavour (website). 

Good luck, best wishes, and compliments to the Hastings lifeboat crew and support!