Sheerness Lifeboat Station is strategically located at Garrison Point in Sheerness Dockyard, in Sheerness, a town on the Isle of Sheppey, sitting at the mouth of the River Medway, and overlooking the Thames estuary, on the north coast of the county of Kent.OS map 149: Sittingbourne & Faversham Isle of Sheppey. Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey. Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Author: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: 1992, Patrick Stephens Ltd – Part of the Haynes Publishing Group.Work: Chapter 18 – The Lifeboat Stations – Part 2 The Kent Stations, Pages 161/162.
A lifeboat station was first established at Sheerness in 1969, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The station currently operates 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce (ON 1345), a All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2021, and a small Inshore lifeboat, Buster (D-799), on station since 2016.
History In 1969, the RNLI placed two extra lifeboats on the Thames Estuary, following a decision by the RAF to withdraw the rescue helicopters from RAF Manston. An extra lifeboat went to , and it was decided to place an All-weather lifeboat at Sheerness on evaluation.
The first lifeboat was a new design, a 41-foot lifeboat, moulded in GRP, and fitted out by Keith Nelson Ltd, of Bembridge, with twin diesel engines, producing 19kts. Subsequently called a Keith Nelson class lifeboat, she was the only one constructed. Numbered 40-001, she was named Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde (ON 1017) after a legacy from Mrs. Hinde.
Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde (ON 1017) was on station from April to November 1969, but with a two month period away for repairs in July and August. For that time, Sheerness had a relief boat on station, a lifeboat 44-001. In late 1969, the Keith Nelson boat was transferred to for further evaluation, and Sheerness then received a lifeboat, Canadian Pacific (ON 803), a boat already over 30 years old, and capable of just 8.5kts.
In January 1970, following a successful appraisal, the RNLI decided to establish a permanent station at Sheerness. Canadian Pacific was replaced by another lifeboat in April 1970, Gertrude (ON 847), already a 25 year old lifeboat, that had previously been stationed at and . Despite her age, she would be launched 103 times, and save 61 lives, over her 4 year term on station.
The station received another lifeboat in 1974, but this time, the brand new 44-009 Helen Turnbull (ON 1027), which served the station for the next 22 years.
During her time on service, the Helen Turnbull would be launched four times, when medals for gallantry were later awarded. Coxswain Charles Henry Bowry was twice awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, for services in 1976 and 1979. On 19 March 1980, the Helen Turnbull (ON 1027) was launched at 18:16 into a strong gale, to the aid of the offshore radio station ship Mi Amigo, which had dragged her anchor, and been driven ashore on Long Sand Shoal. In poor conditions, the lifeboat stood by for three hours, until the ship refloated, but it pitched and rolled badly. Four survivors were taken off after 13 attempts by the lifeboat, the vessel sinking a short time later. Coxswain Charles Henry Bowry was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. A fourth medal (bronze), was awarded to Coxswain Robin Castle, for a service in the 1987 Hurricane, where the lives of two fishermen were saved.
In 1985, negotiations took place with the Medway Ports Authority, and the lifeboat was relocated to Gun Wharf Steps. New crew facilities were provided in 2000, and a new Pontoon berth was constructed in 2010.
lifeboat 14-13 George and Ivy Swanson (ON 1211), which had been placed on station in 1996, and served Sheerness for 25 years, was replaced in 2021, with the arrival of a new lifeboat 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce (ON 1345).
Station honours The following are awards made at Sheerness
RNLI Silver Medal Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1980
RNLI Bronze Medal Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976 Charles Henry Bowry, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1979 (Second-Service clasp) Robin William Castle, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1987
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Malcolm E. Keen, crew member – 1974 The lifeboat crew – 1980 Richard Rogers, Helm – 1987 Brian Spoor, crew member – 1987 Dennis Bailey Jr., Second Coxswain – 1987 Richard Rogers, crew member – 1987
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Robin William Castle, Coxswain – 2010NYH
Freedom of the Borough of Swale Robin Castle, Former Coxswain – 2021
Sheerness lifeboats All-weather lifeboats ON Op. No. Name Class Comments 1017 40-001 Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde 1969 Boat placed at Sheerness for evaluation prior to establishment of station 803 – Canadian Pacific 1969–1970 847 – Gertrude 1970–1974 46-foot Watson 1027 Helen Turnbull 1974–1996 1211 14-13 George and Ivy Swanson 1996–2021 1345 13-38 Judith Copping Joyce 2021– Delivered 28 May 2021
Inshore lifeboats Op. No. Name Class Comments 1972–1976 D-50 1973–1974 D-253 1976–1988 D-362 1988–1996 D-513 Seahorse I 1996–2006 D-662 Eleanor 2006–2016 D-799 Buster 2016–
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
References