Portsmouth Lifeboat Station is located at Eastney Point near Southsea, on Portsea Island, in the English county of Hampshire. It sits facing Langstone Harbour on one of the tributaries flowing into the Solent.OS Explorer Map – 119 - Meon Valley, Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham, Showing part of the South Downs Way (Folded Map). Published: Ordnance Survey; A2 edition (15 Feb 2010).

A lifeboat station was first established on Portsea Island at Southsea in 1886 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), but was closed in 1918. An Inshore lifeboat station was re-established at Eastney in May 1965.

The station currently operates two Inshore lifeboats, a lifeboat, Norma T (B-846), on station since 23 October 2010, and a smaller lifeboat, The Dennis Faro (D-850), on station since 2020.

History In 1886, the RNLI established a lifeboat station at Southsea. The location was considered to be an ideal position "whence a Life-boat can proceed, either under sail or in tow of the Admiralty or other steam-tugs, to shipwrecks along that coast and round the eastern approaches to Spithead."

The Heyland (ON 34), a 37-foot 12-oared 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, built in 1882, was placed at Southsea. The Southsea station was closed in 1918 when the RNLI decided that the area was adequately covered by the stations at and .

For further information, please see: Southsea Lifeboat Station

In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.

More stations were opened, and in May 1965, a lifeboat station was re-established on Portsea Island. opened with the arrival of a Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-48).

A boathouse was constructed at Eastney Point, facing Langstone Harbour. The first Inshore lifeboat (D-48) was paid for by funds raised by Hemel Hempstead Round Table. By 1967 the station was also operating a rigid hull inshore lifeboat, with the craft being kept at permanent anchor in the harbour at Eastney.

At 03:15 on 7 September 1974, Eastney lifeboat station was alerted by Shoreham Coastguard. to red flares sighted in Langstone channel. The Inshore lifeboat D-184 was launched at 03:43, into a SSW force 9 gale. Arriving on scene 13 minutes later at 03:59, they found a man and boy, lashed both together, and to their boat, the motor cruiser Valon. With great skill in difficult conditions, the lifeboat was brought alongside, and both man and boy were recovered to the lifeboat. The return trip took twice as long as the outward trip due to the conditions, after which both casualties to transferred to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. For this service, all three lifeboat crew were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, crew member Dennis Faro receiving a second-service clasp to his previously won bronze medal.

In 1975 a new , Guide Friendship II (B-530) was placed on service, replacing the (A-505). A new boathouse was constructed to house both the B-class and D-class lifeboats. In 1978, the station name was formally changed to Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour) Lifeboat Station.

The boat house was re-developed in 1991, at a cost of £90,000, and was officially opened on 27 October. Crew were provided with a changing/kit drying room, new toilet and shower facilities and a first aid reception room. Also within the building there is a workshop, training and briefing room, and a station office. In 1995, the station name was changed once again, becoming Portsmouth Lifeboat Station. An extension to the boathouse was completed in 2002.

In 2009, the lifeboat Heyland II (D-554) was replaced by a new lifeboat. It was named Brian's Pride (D-716), funded by longtime lifeboat fundraisers Brian and Marilyn Bass. The boat served for 11 years, and during that time launched 341 times, aided 250 people, and saved 26 lives.

The current lifeboat, Norma T (B-846), was placed on service in 2010, provided by the donation of Bob and Norma Thomas.

In 2020, Brian's Pride (D-716) was replaced by The Dennis Faro (D-850), The boat was named in honour of the late former helm of Portsmouth lifeboat, Dennis Faro, twice awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for gallantry, who died in 2006 age 80.

Station honours The following are awards made at Portsmouth

RNLI Bronze Medal Dennis Faro, Helm – 1973 Sydney Ronald Stanley Thayers, Helm – 1974 William Charles Hawkins, crew member – 1974 Dennis Faro, crew member – 1974 (Second-Service clasp)

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Dr I. T. McLachlan – 1965 D. Cook-Radmore – 1965 S. Thayers – 1965 Robert John Faro – 1967 Roy Richards – 1967 Dr I. T. McLachlan – 1970 P. Bannister – 1970 R. B. Needle – 1970 R. B. Needle – 1970 John Fletcher, Helm – 1972 Martin Icke, Helm – 1989 Paul Venton, crew member – 1989 Adrian West, crew member – 1989 Martin Icke, Helm – 1996 Paul Clark, crew member – 2005 Tobi O’Neill, crew member – 2005

Vellum Service Certificate Francis T. Hawkins, crew member – 1972 Graham Jewell, crew member – 1972

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution Stephen Alexander, Helmsman – 1988 Adrian West, crew member – 1988 Paul Venton, crew member – 1988 James Beach, crew member – 1988 John Brooks, Helm – 2005

A Letter of appreciation Lifeboat Crew – 1966

Portsmouth lifeboats D-class Op. No. Name Class Comments D-48 1965−1970 D-184 1970−1983 D-296 1984−1992 D-421 Lord Raglan 1992−2000 D-554 Heyland II 2000−2009 D-716 Brian’s Pride 2009−2020 2020−

A-class Op. No. Name Class Comments 18-02 1967−1968 17-01 1968−1969 18-02 1969−1970 1970−1971 18-008 1971−1974 Renumbered A-508 in 1972 A-505 1974–1975 Previously 18-005

B-class Op. No. Name Class Comments B-530 1975−1981 B-550 City of Portsmouth 1981−1996 B-730 CSMA Frizzell 1996−2010 Norma T 2010−

Neighbouring station locations

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

References