Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station was created in 1931, with the amalgamation of two Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) branches, (1851–1931) and (1881–1925).
The primary location is at South Promenade in St Annes, on the Fylde coast of Lancashire, from where it operates an All-weather lifeboat. The lifeboat 13-24 Barbara Anne (ON 1331) has been on station since 2018.
There is also a secondary location, the former 1960s station, located away at East Beach, Lytham, from where it operates a Inshore lifeboat, currently MOAM (D-800), on station since 2016.
History For earlier information about Lytham or St Annes lifeboat stations, please see; Lytham Lifeboat Station (1851–1931) St Annes Lifeboat Station (1881–1925)
On the 12 March 1931, the Lytham branch of the RNLI, which was still operational, joined with the St Annes branch, their station having closed in 1925, and thus was created 'Lytham St Annes' Lifeboat Station.
Less than one month later, on 7 April 1931, Lytham St Annes lifeboat station received a new 35-foot 6in self-righting (motor) lifeboat, constructed by J. Samuel White of Cowes, and costing £3,281. She had a 35-hp engine, delivering a speed of . She was named the Johnson Webster, Henry Butterworth and William and Catherine Rashleigh lifeboat, all named on a plaque inside the boat, but known as J.H.W. (ON 738). The boat was to heavy to be housed in the boathouse, so was moored off Lytham Pier, the boathouse being used to store equipment, along with a small boarding boat. J.H.W. would serve for eight years, being transferred to in 1939.
The Dunleary (ON 658) arrived in Lytham St Annes on 29 January 1939. A much older motor-lifeboat, built in 1919, she had served at (Dún Laoghaire), but was larger, faster and much better equipped. In March 1939, the crew was joined by Motor Mechanic George 'Ginger' Harrison. He would go on to serve as mechanic for 40 years, the longest serving RNLI Mechanic.
There had been some discussion about closing the Lytham St Annes station in 1938, but this was never actioned. This was probably quite fortunate, as the outbreak of World War II brought extra duties. Rifle practice was required, as was carrying a member of the Naval forces on the boat. Permission to launch was under Admiralty control. In November 1939, the Dunleary provided exceptional service to H.M.Trawler Gaul, saving the boat and 15 crew. In 1942, six lives, and H.M. Patrol Vessel Seilestier, were saved. Five lifeboat crewmen were awarded the 1939–1945 Star for their wartime service.
The Sarah Townsend Porritt (ON 886) arrived on 19 April 1951, a lifeboat, with twin diesel engines, delivering . She cost £24,427, and was provided from the legacy of Kate Isabel Porritt of Rossendale, Lancashire. Sarah would serve 27 years, and be credited with two medal rescues. On 3 July 1955, she was called to the yacht Penboch, aground on Angry Brow two miles north of Southport. After a difficult service, with the lifeboat being battered and grounding several times, five people were rescued. Coxswain Joe Parkinson would receive the bronze medal. In a service on 21 July 1962 to the yacht Lone Seeker, stranded on Salter's Bank, four people and the yacht were saved, but only after George Harrison got burned on the hand when the line rocket jammed. Coxswain Harold Parkinson was awarded the bronze medal, with George Harrison receiving 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'.
A mussel cleaning plant had been constructed on the waterfront at Lytham in 1935, but it was no longer needed by 1957. On hearing of the intended demolition, RNLI Mechanic George Harrison was reported as saying "What a pity to pull down the place. It'd make a nice life-boat station." On 26 June 1960, Lytham St Annes got a new base to house their boarding boat and equipment, moving from the 1863 boathouse next to Lytham Windmill. It turned out to be the ideal home for the Inshore lifeboat (D-120), that arrived in 1967.
In 1997, a number of lifeboats were removed from station because of engine problems, and replaced with a variety of relief lifeboats. Lytham St Annes boat 47-037 Sarah Emily Harrop (ON 1155) was sent away for repairs, only never to return. In her place, lifeboat 12-21 Margaret Jean (ON 1178) arrived on station, and for now would still be moored afloat off the Lytham Central Beach Station.
There had long been concerns about the river silt, and even as early as 1995, relief Mersey lifeboat 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189) had been sent on trial, operating from North Beach car park, north of St Annes. A second Mersey was sent on trials to Lytham St Annes in 1999, 12-001 Peggy and Alex Caird (ON 1124), this time operating out of Fairhaven Road car park. All went very well, and at the crew's request, the station would change to have a carriage launched lifeboat.
Mersey-class lifeboat 12-33 Fisherman's Friend (ON 1192) replaced relief boat Margaret Jean on 27 March 1999, and on 28 March 1999, she was the last boat to depart the Lytham mooring, ending its regular use after 68 years. She was recovered to the Fairhaven Road car park site in St Annes, where a temporary station was constructed in July 1999. Lytham St Annes received their permanent boat on 16 December 1999, the 1995 trial boat Her Majesty the Queen. She would serve Lytham St Annes for the next 18 years.
Construction of a new station started in 2001, completing in 2003, The site, down the slipway at the end of Eastbank Road in St Annes, was exactly where the first St Annes lifeboat had been launched 120 years previously.
In 2018, Lytham St Annes station received a new lifeboat, 13-24 Barbara Anne (ON 1331). Costing £2.2million, she is capable of 25 knots, nearly 50% faster than the previous lifeboat.
Following a review of RNLI service calls between 2017 and 2022, it was revealed that 98% of the calls were within 10 nautical miles of the shore, with just 1.8% between 10 and 25 nautical miles, and only 0.2% of incidents at a range greater than 25 nautical miles from the shore. It was announced in October 2025 that in 2027, Lytham St Annes will be the first station to receive a Mk.4 Inshore lifeboat, replacing the All-weather lifeboat, which will be withdrawn.
After service
Having served at Lytham St Annes for 18 years, and later at , the lifeboat 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189) was retired in 2023. This happened to coincide with the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and it was felt to be inappropriate to sell the lifeboat from service. After having the engines removed, the boat was first placed on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard. She has since returned to Poole, and now sits on permanent display at the RNLI College.
Another former Lytham St Annes lifeboat, the medal-winning 46-foot 9in Watson-class Sarah Townsend Porritt (ON 886), was sold in 1982, and spend many years as Sarah, as a well-kept former lifeboat. However, a change of circumstance, a subsequent sinking, and a failed restoration plan, has left the lifeboat in a sorry state. As of 2026, she is being given one last chance. She sits in a yard at Hayle in Cornwall, available free to anyone interested, hoping for a new owner and restoration, before she is scrapped.
Station honours The following are awards made at Lytham St Annes:
1939–1945 Star Edward Rimmer Hugh Rimmer Joseph Harold Parkinson George Harrison J. R. Parkinson RNLI Silver Medal John James Parkinson, Coxswain – 1940 RNLI Bronze Medal George Harrison, Motor Mechanic – 1940 Joseph Harold Parkinson, Coxswain – 1955 Harold Parkinson, Coxswain – 1962 Arthur Wignall, Coxswain – 1981 Brian Pearson, Assistant Mechanic – 1981 Medal Service Certificate Tony West, Motor Mechanic – 1981 Harry Bamber, crew member – 1981 David Topping, crew member – 1981 Robert Kennedy, crew member – 1981 Russell Wignall, crew member – 1981 Gary Miller, crew member – 1981 Daniel Chester, crew member – 1981 Paul Francis, crew member – 1981 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' George Harrison, Mechanic – 1956 Keith Morris, Reserve Mechanic – 1956 G Harrison, Mechanic – 1962 Harold Parkinson, Coxswain – 1969 Kenneth Smith – 1969 Robert Kennedy, crew member – 1981 'A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' Gary Miller, Helm – 1994 Russell Wignall, crew member – 1994 Martin Jaggs, crew member – 1994 A special framed certificate for First Aid Service Gary Bird, Second Mechanic – 2005 Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Tony West, Second Coxswain / Mechanic – 1996NYH Martin Jaggs, Coxswain/Mechanic – 2016QBH British Empire Medal George Harrison, Mechanic – 1972NYH Arthur Robert Wignall – 1987NYH David Forshaw, Deputy Launching Authority, Press Officer – 2022NYH
Lytham St Annes lifeboats and tractors Lytham St Annes ON Op.No. Name Built Class Comments 738 – J. H. W. 1931 1931−1939 35-foot 6in self-righting (motor) Transferred to . 658 – Dunleary 1919 1939−1951 45-foot Watson Previously at Kingstown. 886 – Sarah Townsend Porritt 1951 1951−1978 911 – City of Bradford III 1954 1978−1985 46-foot 9in Watson Previously at . 955 The Robert 1960 1985−1988 47-foot Watson Previously at and . Transferred to . 1146 47-031 Voluntary Worker 1988 1988−1990 Previously in the Relief fleet. Later at . 1155 Sarah Emily Harrop 1989 1990−1997 Transferred to the Relief fleet. Later at . 1178 12-21 Margaret Jean 1991 1997−1999 Previously in the Relief fleet. Later at . 1192 12-33 Fisherman's Friend 1993 1999 Previously in the Relief fleet. Later at . 1189 12-30 1992 1999–2018 Previously in the Relief fleet. Later at . 1331 13-24 Barbara Anne 2017 2018− More post-service details can be found on the respective lifeboat class pages.
Lytham St Annes No. 2 (trials) ON Op.No. Name Built Class Comments 1124 1988 1999 Previously at . Later at .
Inshore lifeboats D class Op.No. Name Class Comments D-120 1967–1976 D-251 1977–1988 Provided from an appeal for Green Shield Stamps by the Bramhall and Woodford Ladies Lifeboat Guild. D-360 1988–1996 D-509 John Kennedy 1996–2006 Named in memory of the former Honorary Secretary, by his widow Doreen on 13 April 1997. D-657 Sally 2006–2016 D-800 MOAM 2016–
Launch and Recovery tractors Op.No. Reg. No. Type Comments T38 HYU 15 Case L 1961–1964 Used for the Boarding Boat T31 FGU 821 Case L 1964–1969 Used for the Boarding Boat T35 FYM 558 Case L 1969–1973 Used for the Boarding Boat T120 P514 HAW Talus MB-H Crawler 1999–2001 T107 F415 EAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2001–2008 T95 B188 GAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2008–2018 SC-T13 HF67 DSO SLARS (SC Innovation) 2018–2019 SLARS (Supacat) 2019–2021 SC-T13 HF67 DSO SLARS (SC Innovation) 2021–20232025–
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References
External links Lytham St Annes RNLI Lifeboat Station