Selsey Lifeboat Station is located on Kingsway in Selsey, a town approximately south of Chichester, at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, overlooking the English Channel, in the county of West Sussex, England.Chichester, South Harting, and Selsey OS Explorer Map 120 Folded Map. Publisher: Ordnance Survey; B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009.
A lifeboat station was established at Selsey by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1861.
The station operates a All-weather lifeboat, 13-20 Denise and Eric (ON 1327), on station since 2017, launched via the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS), and the much smaller Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Flt Lt John Buckley RAF (D-827), on station since 2018.
History 1861–World War II On 5 June 1861, a self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with both sails and oars, was dispatched to Chichester, where the Chichester and West Sussex branch of the RNLI had been established. The following day, the boat was transported to the new station at Selsey on her own carriage, where a boathouse had been constructed at a cost of £194.
The lifeboat, built to a design by Peake, was formerly stationed at , but had been returned to the manufacturer Forrestt of Limehouse, London, and extended from to . Now funded by a donation of £180 from the Society of Friends, the lifeboat was duly named Friend.
In 1886, on his retirement, and in recognition of his 25 years service since the station opened, Coxswain James Lawrence was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 178 – James Lawrence – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. Services included: Brig Governor Maclean of London, 5 September 1864, Rescued 7. Brig Sarah Ann of Jersey, 1867, saved 4. Schooner Excel 1872 Schooner Henrietta of Truro, 14 November 1875, saved vessel and crew. Barque Sueine Meinde of Pillau, 27 February 1878, rescued 10. Schooner Kyanite of Guernsey, 8 February 1881 Barque Tranmere of Liverpool, 2 September 1883, rescued 13.
A second lifeboat was placed on station in 1894. A larger 40-foot self-righting lifeboat Lucy Newbon (ON 360) was placed on service, whilst the smaller 34-foot lifeboat John and Henry Skynner (ON 37) was retained for close shore work. It was soon realised that the larger boat was suitable for both environments, and the John and Henry Skynner was withdrawn.
In 1925 work began on the construction of a new boathouse, built on a piled platform with a gangway from the shore, which had a trolley track. In 1927 the boathouse was re-built again, to house the station's new motor-powered lifeboat Canadian Pacific (ON 714). Canadian Pacific (ON 714) would be lost in a fire on 18 June 1937, whilst being refurbished at the Groves and Guttridge boatyard.
During the Second World War, the station's crew and lifeboats were involved in many rescues. Watson-class lifeboat Canadian Pacific (ON 803) launched approximately 50 times, often to rescue pilots from fallen aeroplanes.Strong To Save – Dramatic first-hand accounts of the RNLI lifeboat rescues around the British Isles. Authors: Kipling, Ray and Susannah. Publisher:Patrick Stephens Ltd. Date: 1998 Third print. Work: Chapter 3, The Second World War – under fire, Page 57, reference to Selsey helping Airmen. On 11 July 1940, the lifeboat rescued John Peel, the commanding officer of RAF 145 Squadron, minutes after he abandoned his damaged Hurricane (P3400) off Selsey Bill.Shot Down And In The Drink – RAF and Commonwealth aircrews saved from the sea 1939-1945. Author:Pitchfork, Graham. Publisher:The National Archives – Date: 2005. work: Chapter 7, The first three years, Page 80,
1952–1987: improvements and inshore service
Between 1952 and 1953, the boathouse's substructure was strengthened and the slipway was lengthened. The boathouse was rebuilt in 1958 with reinforced concrete as the old structure had become unsafe due to years of coastal erosion. The deep water roller slipway was re-configured to have a gradient of 1:5, and the station was given a newly fabricated steel approach gangway from the shore.Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Authur: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: Patrick Stephens Ltd – Haynes Publishing Group 1992. Work: Chapter 18, The Lifeboat Stations, South and West Britain and Ireland, page 171, Selsey.
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 Inshore lifeboats were introduced, and in 1968, the Inshore lifeboat D-164 was assigned to the station at Selsey, to operate alongside the existing All-weather lifeboat. The new Inshore lifeboat was launched on a newly constructed launchway, to the eastern side of the main slipway.For Those In Peril – The Lifeboat Service of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Station by Station. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Silver Link Publishing Ltd, First Issue 1999. Work:Part 2, South Coast of England – Eastbourne to Weston-super-Mare, Page 75, Selsey.
The 46-foot Watson lifeboat Canadian Pacific (ON 803) was withdrawn to the Relief fleet in 1969, and finally sold from service in 1977.
A new boathouse was constructed for the Inshore lifeboat in 1987.
2011–present: 150th anniversary and onwards In 2011, the RNLI celebrated Selsey's 150th anniversary as a continuously active lifeboat station.
In the summer of 2017, a new boathouse was built on shore at the Kingsway, which allowed all elements of the RNLI at Selsey to come together on a single site for the first time. The old station was demolished and removed between June and July 2017. In July 2017, after almost 34 years of service by lifeboats RNLB City of London (ON 1074) and RNLB Voluntary Worker (ON 1146), the longest of any RNLI station, Selsey received a new lifeboat, 13-20 Denise and Eric (ON 1327).
Station honours The following are among the RNLI medals and other awards presented to crew members from Selsey Lifeboat Station:RNLI Selsey: Station history
Award Date Name Award Note & Reference May 1886 Coxswain James 'Pilot' Lawrence RNLI Silver Medal 25 Years Service June 1930 RNLI Bronze Medal Rescue of the Lucy B of RyeLifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 262 – Frederick Barnes – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. Selsey lifeboat crew Thanks on Vellum April 1950 Crewman William Arnell Thanks on Vellum,Maud Smith Award 1950 for Bravest Act by a crew member Jumped overboard from the lifeboat, to rescue a man trying to swim ashore, from an overturned boat in rough seas. November 1951 Coxswain Leslie Pennycord RNLI Bronze Medal Rescue of the MV Swift of Costa Rica.Lifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 310 – Leslie Pennycord – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. July 1956 Coxswain Douglas Grant RNLI Silver Medal Triple Rescue of the Maalust, Bloodhound and CoimaLifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 318 – Douglas Grant – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. Selsey lifeboat crew Thanks on Vellum January 1961 Selsey Lifeboat Station Centenary Vellum – RNLI December 1977 Acting Coxswain Mike Grant Thanks on Vellum Rescue of three crew and the fishing vessel Jenny. Selsey lifeboat crew Vellum service certificates December 1978 Coxswain Mike Grant Thanks on Vellum Rescue of two crew off the fishing vessel New Venture. Selsey lifeboat crew Vellum service certificates January 1979 Coxswain Mike Grant RNLI Silver Medal Rescue of the SS Cape Coast of Panama Selsey lifeboat crew Medal service certificates Coxswain Mike Grant RNLI Silver Medal(Second-service clasp)The rescue of Enchantress of HambleLifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 380 – Mike Grant – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. Selsey lifeboat crew Medal service certificates October 1983 Helm Dave Munday RNLI Bronze Medal The rescue of three crew of the motor vessel Joan MaureenLifeboat Gallantry RNLI medals and how they were won. Edited by: Barry Cox. Published: Spink, London, 1998. Page 380 – Dave Munday – Coxswain of Selsey Lifeboat. October 1983 Helm Dave Munday Ralph Glister Award 1983 for Meritorious Service The rescue of three crew of the motor vessel Joan Maureen Tony Delahunty Nigel Osborn October 1983 Selsey ILB crew Framed letter of thanks March 1984 Mechanic Ronald Wells British Empire Medal,25 years Service Award Queens Birthday Honours 1984 May 1984 D. Cockayn – Honorary Secretary 20 years Service Gold Badge January 1988 Molly Woods 30 years Service Gold Badge January 1995 Ron Carbines Dedicated Service Gold Badge January 1998 Dr Andrew Warwick – Medical Officer January 1999 Jean Warwick Dedicated Service Gold Badge Clive Cockayne January 2011 Selsey Lifeboat Station 150 years Vellum 150 years as a continuously active lifeboat station January 2012 Clive Cockayne Bar to Dedicated Service Gold Badge
Selsey lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments Friend 1854 1861–1865 35-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 35-foot x 8-foot 2in (12-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. K. Corker of Ramsgate, previously 29-foot 1in x 7-foot 9in (10-oared), built and lengthened (1860) by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £143 when new.Previously at . Pre-438 Friend 1865 1865–1871 32-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S) 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) Prowse-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, an anonymous gift, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £240.Renamed Four Sisters in 1871. Pre-438 Four Sisters 1865 1871–1885 32-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S) Gift of Misses Hallam and Mrs Birt of Godalming. 37 1885 1885–1896 34-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. Skynner of London, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £300. 360 Lucy Newbon 1894 1894–1919 40-foot Self-righting (P&S) 40-foot x 10-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr R. A. Newbon of Islington, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £640.Selsey No.2 (1894–1896). 394 Civil Service No.4 1896 1919–1922 40-foot Self-righting (P&S) 40-foot x 10-foot 4in self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Civil service LB fund, built by Hansen of East Cowes, costing £649 when new.Reserve lifeboat No.3, previously at .
All-weather lifeboats ON Op.No.. Name Built Class Comments 673 – Jane Holland 1922 1922–1929 40-foot Self-righting (motor) 40-foot x 10-foot 6in self-righting (motor) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. H. Clarke, with single 45-hp Tylor engine, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,202. 714 – Canadian Pacific 1928 1929–1937 45-foot 6in Watson Previously H.F.Bailey II at . Destroyed by fire at Groves & Guttridge boatyard, 18 June 1937. 671 – The Brothers 1922 1937–1938 45-foot Watson Relief fleet boat. Previously at and 803 – Canadian Pacific 1938 1938–1969 46-foot Watson Replacement for ON 714 1015 48-12 Charles Henry 1968 1969–1983 1074 City of London 1982 1983–2006 1146 47-031 1988 2006–2017 Previously at 1327 13-20 Denise and Eric 2017 2017– Carriage launched from onshore new boathouse
Inshore lifeboats Op.No. Name Class Comments D-164 1968–1970 D-138 1970–1980 Sea Lion 1981–1989 D-382 1989–1998 D-533 Peter Cornish 1998–2008 D-691 2008–2018 D-827 Flt Lt John Buckley RAF 2018–
Shannon launch and recovery system (SLARS) Op. No. Reg. No. Name Type Comments Miss Eileen Beryl Phillips 2017– SLARS (Clayton)
Neighbouring station locations
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References