Blyth Lifeboat Station is located on Quay Road, in the Port and seaside town of Blyth, in the south east corner of the county of Northumberland, approx. north of Newcastle upon Tyne.
A lifeboat was first stationed at Blyth by the Ridley Estate Trust in 1808, but operated for only two years. Following subsequent management by both the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), and the Blyth Lifeboat Association (BLA), the station was finally transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1866.
The station currently operates two Inshore lifeboats, the lifeboat Patricia Southall (B-923), on station since 2021, and the smaller Sally Forth (D-878), since 2023.
History A lifeboat had first been based at Blyth in 1808, privately sponsored by Sir Matthew Ridley. On its first service to a number of Cullercoats fishing boats, caught in a sudden storm off St Mary's island in 1810, the lifeboat was wrecked. 15 lifeboatmen lost their lives. The lifeboat was not replaced.
The Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association (NSA) would fund a new Blyth lifeboat in 1826, which was managed and operated by the recently formed RNIPLS. This boat was also to suffer tragedy, capsizing just out of the harbour on 28 October 1841. 10 lifeboatmen lost their lives. Crewman Henry Kinch, a very strong swimmer, and one of only two survivors, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for his efforts to save the crew. The boat was recovered, but transferred to in 1843, and not immediately replaced.
In 1845, the Port of Newcastle Shipwreck Association ordered a new lifeboat from Oliver of South Shields, a 32-foot 12-oared non-self-righting lifeboat, costing £175. It would be managed by the Blyth Lifeboat Association, who levied a toll on all ships entering Blyth to pay for its upkeep.
On 27 October 1852, the Blyth lifeboat launched to the Russian barque Victoria, wrecked near Blyth Harbour. All 14 crew were saved. H.M. Coastguard James Kearney White was awarded the RNLI Silver Clasp to his medal, his second Silver award.
In certain weather conditions, it was found difficult to getting the lifeboat out of the harbour. To resolve this, Blyth No.2 station was established in 1854, located 1 mile north of Blyth Harbour on Cambois Links. Sir Matthew Ridley would provide a site, and the funds for a boathouse. A 31-foot 12-oared lifeboat was constructed by George Redhead of Blyth. In 1870, the previously unnamed lifeboat would be named Thomas Carr.
On 1 December 1866, management of the station was transferred to the RNLI. The No.1 boathouse was renovated and lengthened, and the 20–year old lifeboat was replaced with a new 33-foot Self-righting boat, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, costing £283. A new carriage was provided for the boat, costing a further £98, and at a ceremony on 4 May 1867, the new boat was named Salford, having been provided by funds raised by the Manchester and Salford branch of the RNLI.
On service to the Norwegian vessel Fremad on 16 October 1898, the No.2 Lifeboat Oswald, Sarah & Jane (ON 250) capsized. Some lifeboat men made it ashore, and others regained the boat, but Second Coxswain Mark Fairhurst was swept away. Coxswain John William Tinning jumped back into the sea, and managed to pull Fairhurst ashore, but he didn't survive.
Tinning was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, and a Silver Medal from the Norwegian Government for his courageous actions. He would later be killed in action, in the Second Boer War, on 21 July 1900.
Blyth No.2 station was renamed Cambois Lifeboat Station on 8 March 1900. In the same year, a new lifeboat would be placed at Cambois, the 34-foot John Anthony (ON 447). Cambois Coxswain John Bushell and Acting Bowman G. Summerside would be awarded gallantry medals from the King of Norway, for their service to the barque Haabet of Svelvik on 12 November 1901. On the 9 October 1921, a motor-powered 45-foot Watson lifeboat Joseph Adlam (ON 654) would be placed at Blyth. Cambois Lifeboat Station was closed on 30 June 1927.
In 1921, for the station's first motor lifeboat, the RNLI built a new boathouse and roller-slipway. The various motor lifeboats over the years were slipway launched until October 1982, when a fast afloat boat was allocated to the station.
The Waveney served until replaced by the new 25-knot lifeboat 14-06 Windsor Runner (ON 1204) in December 1995. (Unusually for the RNLI, all of Blyth's motor lifeboats had been built new for the station).
However, a review of lifeboat provision in the North East led to the decision to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat from Blyth, and the station became an Inshore Lifeboat Station on 16 July 2004.
Inevitably, decisions to close or downgrade stations often lead to local concerns, and following the RNLI decision, the independent "Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat Service" (BVLS) was established. With the help of a loan from a local man, a 38-foot-6-inch Lochin Marine lifeboat was purchased, constructed in 1990 for the Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service (CVLS), (another independent lifeboat service, similarly set up after withdrawal of their RNLI All-weather lifeboat). At a ceremony on Sunday 22 March 2005, the boat was named Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck.
In 2014, the service acquired the former gold-medal winning lifeboat 52-02 Sir William Arnold (ON 1025), by then in private hands and known as Samuel J. The boat was in service at Blyth until operations ceased in 2019, and the boat was sold. Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat Service formally ceased in 2021.
In 2023, three members of crew of the RNLI Inshore lifeboat had to be rescued, when they were washed overboard during search operations in Seaton Sluice harbour. The crew activated their Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon and fired a distress flare, and were soon rescued. Their boat was recovered by lifeboat.
Station honours The following are awards made at Blyth
Bronze Medal for gallantry in saving life at sea Anthony Nixon, Coxswain – 1913
RNIPLS Silver Medal William Armstrong, Pilot – 1829
Henry Kinch, lifeboat crew member – 1841
James Kearney White, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard – 1852
James Kearney White, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard – 1852 (Second-Service Clasp)
RNLI Silver Medal John William Tinning, Coxswain (No. 2) – 1898
Anthony Nixon, Coxswain (Cambois) – 1913
John Bushell, Coxswain – 1916
Thomas Fawcus, Coxswain – 1963
Silver Medal, awarded by the Norwegian Government John William Tinning, Coxswain – 1898
RNLI Bronze Medal Josiah Wheatley, Coxswain – 1939
John Kerr, Bowman – 1963
Charles Hatcher, Coxswain – 1983
The Maud Smith Award 1962 John Kerr, Bowman – 1963
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum John Bushell, Coxswain – 1916
Thomas Fawcus, Coxswain – 1959
to the other members of the crew – 1963
Keith Barnard, Coxswain – 1994
Lifesaving Medals, awarded by The King of Norway John Bushell, Coxswain – 1902 G. Summerside, Acting Bowman – 1902
Silver cup, awarded by The King of Norway Coxswain – 1917
Silver Medals awarded by The King of Norway to each of the crew for their services – 1917
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Dr Reginald Carr – 2016
Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Blyth lifeboat. On service to Cullercoats Fishing Boats, 31 March 1810
Lifeboat Blythe, launched to the brig Sibsons, capsized on 28 October 1841
Oswald, Sarah & Jane (ON 250) capsized on service to the Norwegian vessel Fremad, 16 October 1898. Mark Alfred Fairhurst, Second Coxswain (40)
Blyth lifeboats Blyth (No.1) Pulling and Sailing lifeboats ON Name Built Class Launches/Saved Comments – 1808 30-foot Greathead 1/0 30-foot (10-oared) non-self-righting Greathead, funded by Sir Matthew Ridley & Lloyd's, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields.Wrecked 31 March 1810. Pre-115 Blythe 1826 29-foot North Country ?/11? 27-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, funded by the RNIPLS, built by Wake of Sunderland. Pre-215 Blyth 1845 1845–1867 32-foot North Country ?/20? 32-foot x 10-foot 9in (12-oared) North Country non-self-righting lifeboat, funded from Harbour Dues, built by Oliver of South Shields, costing £175. Salford 1867 1867–1886 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) 10/45 33-foot x 8-foot 1in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the Manchester Branch (RNLI), built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £283. 4 Dalmer 1885 1886–1901 34-foot 1in Self-righting (P&S) 9/59 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs A. Dalmer of Ryde, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £359. 501 Dash 1902 1902–1921 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) 14/57 35-foot x 8-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss M. A. Parke of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £822.
Motor lifeboats ON Op. No. Name Built Class Launches/Saved Comments 654 – Joseph Adlam 1921 1921–1948 45-foot Watson 82/74 853 – Winston Churchill(Civil Service No.8) 1947 1948–1979 68/39 1054 37-36 Shoreline 1979 1979–1982 12/1 1079 The William and Jane 1982 1982–1995 136/43 Last Waveney built 1204 14-06 Windsor Runner 1995 1995–2004 95/15 All-weather lifeboat withdrawn, 2004
Blyth (No.2) Cambois Pulling and Sailing lifeboats ON Name Built Class Launches/Saved Comments 1853 1854–1870 31-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 0/0 31-foot x 8-foot (12-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the Blyth LB Assoc, built by George Redhead of Blyth.Named Thomas Carr in 1870. Pre-270 Thomas Carr 1853 1870–1880 31-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 0/0 Pre-645 1879 1880–1889 30-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S) 1/8 30-foot x 8-foot (8-oared) Montrose-class (Prowse) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr & Mrs Thomas Jones-Gibb of Tunbridge Wells, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £275. 250 Oswald, Sarah & Jane 1889 1889–1900 7/5 31-foot x 7-foot 3in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Stoker of Beverley, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £301. 447 John Anthony 1900 1900–1927 34-foot Rubie Self-righting (P&S) 13/35 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) Dungeness-class (Rubie) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Dr. J. Anthony of Edgbaston, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £661. Station Closed, 1927
Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat Service (BVLS) Name Built Class Comments 1991 2005–2014 Formerly 38-01 Bernard Matthews at Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service Samuel J 1973 2014–2019 52-foot Arun Formerly 52-02 Sir William Arnold at Operations of BVLS ceased, 2019
Inshore lifeboats D-class Op. No. Name Class Comments D-51 1965 D-53 1966–1973 D-210 1973–1986 D-324 1987–1994 Second of two boats funded by the Lifesaver Appeal on BBC Radio Newcastle in 1986 D-464 Wren 1994–2003 Jennie B D-746 Alan and Amy 2012–2023 D-878 Sally Forth 2023–
B-class Op. No. Name Class Comments B-796 2019 Sure and Steadfast B-923 Patricia Southall 2021–
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References
External links Blyth RNLI Lifeboat Station