The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (RNLI Official Number 960) was an lifeboat of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)Sheringham Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas and Russell, Paul :Published by landmark Pub Ltd, 2009: The Sheringham Lifeboats, 1838-200: By Bensley, Mick: Published :Bengunn 2003: stationed at in the English county of NorfolkOS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East. . from 10 July 1961 until 1990 when she was replaced after 29 years service by an second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) in May 1992. During the time that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was on station at Sheringham, she performed 127 service launches, rescuing 134 lives.
Design and construction The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was built at the yard of William Osborne at Littlehampton, West Sussex.Oakley Class Lifeboats: An Illustrated History of the RNLI's Oakley and Rother Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas :Published by The History Press Ltd: She was an Oakley class self-righting design which combined great stability with the ability to self-right in the event of the lifeboat capsizing. This was achieved by a system of shifting water ballast. The system worked by the lifeboat taking on one and half tons of sea water at launching in to a tank built into the base of the hull. If the lifeboat then reached a crucial point of capsize the ballast water would transfer through valves to a righting tank built into the port side. If the capsize was to the starboard side of the lifeboat, the water shift started when an angle of 165° was reached. This would push the boat into completing a full 360° roll. If the capsize was to the port side, the water transfer started at 110°. In this case the weight of water combined with the weight of machinery aboard the lifeboat usually managed to stop the roll and allow the lifeboat to bounce back to upright.
Hull construction The hull of The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was constructed from African mahogany built with two skins. Each skin was diagonally laid with a layer of calico laid between the skins. The outer skin was thick with the inner skin being thick. The keel was iron and weighed 1.154 tons. The hull was divided into eleven watertight compartments. The lifeboat was in length and in beam and displaced , when fully laden with crew and gear. She was fitted with twin Perkins P4M, Diesel engine, which moved her over the water at . The wheelhouse was positioned amidships.
Equipment The lifeboat was fitted with Decca 060 radar and all she carried Pye Westminster VHF and an Ajax MF radio telephones. In addition a radio Direction Finding set was carried, which gave a magnetic bearing to a transmitting station. The electric searchlight was standard along with Pains Wessex speedlines.
Service and rescues The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows performed a total of 127 service launches during here 29 years at Sheringham becoming the longest serving Oakley class lifeboat in the RNLI's fleet.
Coxswains Over the period that The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was stationed at Sheringham she had a total of five coxswains who were as follows: Henry Downtide West, 1961 to 1962 Henry Joyful West, 1963 to 1984 Jack West, 1985 to 1986 Brian Pegg, 1986 to 1989 Clive Rayment, 1989 to 1990
Rescue of the Lucy One notable rescue was carried out on 15 August 1961. the Lucy was herself a converted ship's lifeboat and she was on her maiden voyage from Peterborough to Southwold. There was a north west wind blowing, bitterly cold and sea conditions were described as short steep sea. The Lucy sprung a leak at the stern and started to take on water rapidly. Her four crew became concerned and started to send up distress signals. The signals were spotted and The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows made what was going to be a difficult launched. Because of the conditions of the tide, haul-off rope had to be used to prevent the lifeboat from being washed broadsides onto the beach. Just as the boat left the carriage the mast holding the haul-off rope snapped and it was only by skilful handling by coxwain Henry 'Downtide' West that tragedy was averted. The lifeboat found the Lucy north east of Sheringham. Three lifeboatmen were put aboard the Lucy to help transfer the boat owner's unconscious wife and young son to The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The owner was transferred next, while the fourth member of the crew remained on board with the lifeboatmen while a tow was attempted. In the fierce swell the tow rope snapped and the coxwain decided to evacuate the four men remaining on board. The casualties were landed at Sheringham and all made a full recovery.
Retirement When The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was retired from service her place was temporally taken by the last of Sheringham's all-weather lifeboats, the Lloyds II, built in 1966 and paid for by donations from members of Lloyd's of London. On 18 April 1992, Lloyds II left Sheringham having performed seven services while on station. In May 1992 an second generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) also named Manchester Unity of Oddfellows became the permanent replacement for The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960
The lifeboat displayed at Sheringham Museum
Service and rescues RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows ON 960DateCasualtyLives saved196113 JulyFour crab boats, escorted boats8 AugustSmall Yacht, saved boat315 AugustConverted Ships Lifeboat Lucy, saved boat419629 July Converted Ships Lifeboat Sea Hawk, saved boat47 AugustFishing vessel Sprat, saved boat2196315 AugustCabin cruiser Buccaneer, In tow of crab boat, saved boat, landed 319641 SeptemberCrab boat White Rose, of Sheringham, gave help196520 JuneSpeed boat Sea Sprite, saved boat215 AugustYacht Tablet, saved yacht15 AugustSpeed boat Red Barrel, landed 25 SeptemberCabin Cruiser Sirius, gave help19661 JulyMotor vessel Pantarali of Panama, landed 2 and a body196718 AprilFour crab boats of Sheringham, gave help196829 JanuaryMotor cruiser Hilary Anne, saved boat120 MayNine fishing boats of Sheringham, escorted25 MayFishing boat Tania of Sheringham, saved boat230 JuneCabin cruiser She's a Lady, assisted to save cruiser317 AugustSailing Dinghy, saved dinghy219699 FebruaryMotor vessel Richmond Castle, of London, landed a sick man17 SeptemberCrab boat Cicely, of Sheringham, escorted19713 JanuaryFishing boat Our Boys, of Sheringham, escorted8 FebruaryFishing boat Welcome Messenger, of Sheringham, escorted29 AprilEight fishing boats of Sheringham, stood by3 JuneFishing boats Our Boys and Mizpah of Sheringham, stood by9 JuneConverted motor fishing boat Peggy, of Sheringham, saved boat119 JuneCabin Cruiser John Kay, saved boat6197231 JulyCabin cruiser Cylvia, gave help16 SeptemberYacht Sea Boots, saved219731 JanuaryDudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man6 AprilYacht Sallie of Maldon, saved324 AprilDudgeon Lightvessel, landed a sick man8 AugustFishing vessel Ame of King's Lynn, gave help7 NovemberHaisborough Lightvessel, landed a sick man197427 AprilSix motor fishing vessels, escort vessels25 NovemberFishing vessel Kilsyth, landed an injured man19761 JanuaryFinnlark of Finland, landed an injured man2 JuneYacht Blue Tit, saved boat24 SeptemberBarge Focena, saved boat219775 AugustYacht Niord, gave help25 OctoberDinghy, escorted boat197828 MarchFishing boat Jonathan James, gave help5 JulyConverted Admiralty supply vessel VIC.32, escorted vessel8 SeptemberMotor launch Ailsa, gave help197929 JanuaryFishing boat Mizpah, gave help5 April Fishing boat Mizpah, escorted boat16 April Fishing boat Harvester, Saved226 AugustMotor cruiser Dora Lee, saved519808 AprilFishing boats, escorted boats19839 AugustCabin cruiser Cocktail II saved boat31984 11 MayFishing boats, escorted boats24 MayFishing boats, escorted boats10 AugustMotor fishing vessel Venturer, saved vessel2198520 AprilRubber Dinghy Force Four GT, saved boat213 MayFishing boats, escorted boats3 JuneCargo vessel Bandick of Guernsey, landed an injured man1 AugustRafts, saved603 AugustCatamaran Norwegian Blue, stood by15 SeptemberTwo skin divers saved2198628 OctoberFishing boat Crystal Dawn, saved boat2198725 AprilFishing boat Fragrance gave help28 MayMotor fishing vessel Kathleen, Mizpah and Pegasus, gave help28 MayFishing vessel Good Courage, escorted vessel25 JulyFishing boats, escorted boats29 JulyFishing vessel Sea Eagle, Landed 3 sick men4 OctoberFishing vessel Caroline, saved2198815 MayMotor yacht Kitaja, craft brought in–gave help26 JuneFishing vessel Justifier, craft brought in-gave help19 AugustSailboard, saved board12 September Fishing vessel Liberty, craft brought in-gave help198915 FebruaryRoRo cargo vessel Torga Thia, of Sweden, stood by16 AprilFiahing boat Cheryl C, svaed boat230 MayFishing vessel Pegasus, of Great Yarmouth, escorted vessel21 JuneFishing vessels Donna Maria and Justified, gave help29 JuneYacht Meg, saved boat329 JuneSailing club safety boat Jeanie, escorted boat29 JuneFishing vessel Sea Eagle, escorted vessel199014 AprilSailboard, saved board115 JulyFishing vessel Blue Boy, gave help19 AugustSkin diver, saved119 AugustTwo motor boats, gave help28 SeptemberLast Service, Yacht Smiling Swiss, landed an injured woman
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