Calshot Lifeboat Station is located on Calshot Spit near the village of Calshot, Hampshire, and is on the western bank of the open end of Southampton Water, on the south coast of England.OS Explorer Map, New Forest, Author: Ordnance Survey. Publisher: Ordnance Survey B4 edition (2013).

A lifeboat station was established at Calshot in 1970 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The station currently operates the larger Inshore lifeboat, Max Walls (B-860), on station since 2012, and the smaller Inshore lifeboat, David Radcliffe (D-880), on station since 2023.

History Until its closure in 1961, Calshot Spit had been the site of RAF Calshot, which was the primary seaplane/flying boat development and training unit in the United Kingdom.

After the departure of the RAF, Hampshire County Council opened an educational activities centre on the site. The centre was regularly being asked by HM Coastguard to use its boats, to go out and rescue people in trouble off shore. Col. Philip Keymer , warden of the centre, established negotiations with the RNLI, with a view to there being a more formalised rescue service for this busy stretch of water. The RNLI spent a year evaluating this proposition and as a result, an RNLI lifeboat station was established on the site in 1970.

1970–1985: early lifeboats The first lifeboat to be stationed at Calshot was the Keith Nelson-type lifeboat, 40-001 Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde (ON 1017). The lifeboat was a new experimental type boat, constructed from GRP, designed by T.T. Boat Designs Ltd., of Bembridge, and moulded by Halmatic Ltd., of Havant, for Keith Nelson Ltd., of Bembridge. Powered by two Thornycroft T400 6-cylinder four-stroke turbo-charged diesel engines, the lifeboat had a maximum speed of 19 knots, a cruising speed of 17 knots, and a range at cruising speed of . The lifeboat was initially placed on station at Sheerness in 1969, transferred to Calshot in 1970. Although lacking in self-righting capability, she was viewed as a successful experiment in the use of fibreglass for lifeboats, but it was the only lifeboat of this type placed in service with the RNLI.Never Turn Back – the RNLI since the Second World War. Authors: Kipling, Ray & Susannah. Publisher: Sutton Publishing. 2006 edition. Work: Chapter – Designed for Danger, Page 86, Reference to the name and construction of Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hyde.

On the evening of 10 January 1976, during gale force 8 to 9 winds and a choppy sea, the Calshot lifeboat was called to help a small motorboat, which had been driven ashore on salt marsh in the Ashlett Creek channel. As the water was too shallow for the All-weather lifeboat, the lifeboat crew waded through the marshes, dragging the inflatable boarding boat while they looked for the vessel. Eventually the vessel's three crewmen were located and rescued. Peter King, John Street and Christopher Smith were each awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for the difficult rescue.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 80, Calshot station.

The second lifeboat at the station was the lifeboat Safeway (ON 1104), which was moored just off Calshot Castle. The crew used a davit-launched boarding boat when called out on service. Safeway, which was funded by and named for the Safeway supermarket chain, was built by Lochin Marine at Newhaven, East Sussex in 1985. Like the Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde, she had a fibreglass hull but was self-righting due to her watertight cabin.

1996–2007: new facilities and lifeboats In 1996, the RNLI funded the construction of new shore facilities for Calshot Station, constructed on concrete stanchions to prevent flooding. Hampshire County Council provided a new boarding jetty for use jointly by the lifeboat station and the Calsholt Activity Centre.

The Safeway was withdrawn from service in December 2001 and replaced by the former Poole-based Brede Inner Wheel, which was itself replaced after only a few months by the lifeboat Margaret Russell Fraser (ON 1108). Margaret Russell Fraser had come across the Solent from Yarmouth Lifeboat Station on the Isle of Wight, where she had been a part of RNLI's relief fleet. She arrived in 2002 and was replaced in 2004 by another Arun-class, the Mabel Williams (ON 1159).Arun Lifeboats – An illustrated history of the RNLI Arun lifeboats 1971 – 2009. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Kelsey Publishing Ltd. 2011. work: Page 104, Margaret Russell Fraser. Arun Lifeboats – An illustrated history of the RNLI Arun lifeboats 1971 – 2009. Author: Leach, Nicholas. Publisher: Kelsey Publishing Ltd. 2011. work: Page 126, RNLB Mable Williams (ON1159).

In 2001, the station was given its first Inshore lifeboat from the relief fleet. She was called RJM (D-429). 2003 also saw improvements made to the station facilities. At the cost of £266,424 an extension was added to the side of the station.

Arun-class lifeboats were withdrawn from service in 2007. The Mabel Williams was replaced by the Sarah Emily Harrop (ON 1155), which was moved to the relief fleet in January 2010 and replaced by the Tyne-class Alexander Coutanche (ON 1157).

2012–present: reorganisation

In 2012, the Calshot board of trustees decided that Calshot would cease to be an all-weather station; consequently the Tyne-class lifeboat was withdrawn on 4 April. In its place an inshore lifeboat was sent to the station, necessitating improved facilities had been made at the station to accommodate the new lifeboat and its required launch tractor, a new lifeboat arrived and the Alexander Coutanche was withdrawn.

On 11 July 2012, the new Max Walls (B-860) was placed on the station along with a new New Holland Launch tractor and the Calsholt was officially re-designated as an Inshore lifeboat station.

Station honours The following are awards made at Calshot.

RNLI Bronze Medal Peter King, Emergency Mechanic – 1976 John Street, crew member – 1976 Christopher Smith, crew member – 1976

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution Duncan Christie, Helm – 2001

Framed Commendation from the RNLI Medical Director Andy Headley – 2023 Kelley Leonard – 2023 Damian Lester – 2023 Chris McDonald – 2023

British Empire Medal John Horton – 2020NYH

Calshot lifeboats All-weather lifeboats ON Op. No. Name Class Comments 1970–1985 101740-001 Ernest William & Elizabeth Ellen Hinde First stationed at in 1969. 1985–2001 1104 33-11 Safeway Sold for further use as a lifeboat in Durba, South Africa, where it was named Eikos Rescuer II. Retired in 2019 and now a workboat named Bosss Charger. 2001–2002 1089 33-07 Inner Wheel First stationed at in 1983. Sold in 2002 for further use as a lifeboat in Hout Bay, South Africa when it was named Spirit of Nadine Gordimer. 2002–2004 1108 52-34 Initially deployed in the Relief Fleet in 1986. Sold for further use as a lifeboat in Höfn, Iceland and renamed Ingbjörg, number 2629. 2004–2007 1159 52-45 Mabel Williams First stationed at in 1990. Sold in 2007 for use in China as lifeboat Huaying 391. 2007–2010 1155 47-037 Sarah Emily Harrop First stationed at in 1990. Sold in 202 for use as a ferry/pilot boat for Bere Island in Ireland. 2010–2012 1157 Alexander Coutanche First stationed at in 1989. Sold in 2014 and reported in 2023 to be a work boat in Swansea. All-weather lifeboat withdrawn, 2012

Inshore lifeboats D-class Op. No. Name Class Comments 2001–2002 RJM First stationed at in 1992. 2002–2003 D-418 Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1991. 2003 D-407 Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1990. 2003–2011 D-609 248 Squadron RAF 2011–2023 D-748 Willett 2023– D-880 David Radcliffe

B-class Op. No. Name Class Comments 2012–

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

References