Lerwick Lifeboat Station is located in Lerwick, the main town and port of the Shetland archipelago, which sits off the north coast of the mainland of Scotland.

A lifeboat was first stationed at Lerwick in 1930, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The station currently operates 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), a All-weather lifeboat, on station since 1997, and only the fourth lifeboat to have served at Lerwick.

History At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 20 March 1930, it was decided to establish a lifeboat station at Lerwick, following improvements in communication systems by the Board of Trade. A lifeboat of the most powerful type, a 51-foot Barnett-class lifeboat, was ordered due to the location. Twin 60-hp engines would provide a maximum speed of , and a range of at her cruising speed of , and was due to be supplied in July 1930.

As if to prove the need for a lifeboat, only eight days later, on 28 March 1930, the fishing trawler Ben Doran was wrecked off Shetland, with the loss of all nine crew. The nearest lifeboat at the time was at , which made a journey of 55 hours and , but to no avail.

Lerwick lifeboat station became operational on 17 July 1930, on the arrival of the 51-foot lifeboat built by J. Samuel White, which had departed Cowes some eight days earlier.

The two first services of the lifeboat would come on two consecutive days. On 21 February 1931, the steamer Everline of Riga was 100 miles west of Shetland, and drifting towards the islands, after losing her propeller. Two Lerwick trawlers set out to tow her to safety. The lifeboat crew were awaiting further news of the steamer, when they were called to the ketch Nolsoy of Tórshavn, towing her into harbour at 18:05. On hearing that the towline to the Everline had parted, the lifeboat, taking extra fuel, set out again at 19:15, spending overnight at Symbister due to the conditions, and then heading out to the Everline at 06:00 on the 22 February, arriving at 09:30. In worsening conditions, at 12:30, the Master decided to abandon ship, and in difficult conditions, all 26 men were rescued by the lifeboat.

The Lerwick lifeboat was one of two boats, funded from the legacy of the late Mr William Ryland of Ryland's Electro-plating Company, Sheffield. The second lifeboat was placed at , and named William and Clara Ryland (ON 735). At a ceremony on 25 June 1932, attended by over 3,000 people, the Lerwick lifeboat was named Lady Jane and Martha Ryland (ON 731) by The Duchess of Montrose.

On 16 October 1958, the Soviet trawler Urbe, with a crew of 25, sank near Holm of Skaw. The lifeboat Claude Cecil Staniforth (ON 943), which had been on station at Lerwick for just over two months, was launched on a journey in storm conditions. Putting into Baltasound, they collected local pilot Andrew Mouat, who had offered his services. After much difficulty, including use of a local 10-foot boat, and getting one propeller fouled, the lifeboat rescued the only three survivors. Coxswain John Sales was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, Mr Mouat being awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.

A 52-foot lifeboat 52-10 Soldian (ON 1057) was placed at Lerwick in 1978. In 19 years service, this boat was launched 245 times, and rescue 260 lives. The boat would see some of the most dramatic rescue services, and RNLI Gallantry Medals were awarded on no fewer than five occasions, a silver and four bronze. Four of the awards were made to Coxswain Hewitt Clark, who was awarded a bronze medal, and two bars (three services), and then a silver medal in 1995. In 2002, Soldian was sold to the Icelandic SAR lifeboat service, and served for a further 19 years as Ásgrímur St. Björnsson (2541).

Clark would be further awarded with the RNLI Gold Medal, for the service to the Green Lily on 19 November 1997, with the new Lerwick lifeboat 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), which had replaced Soldian on 19 July 1997, and had been on service for just four months.

In 2005, a new shore facility was opened at the Old Tolbooth.

Green Lily

In storm force 11 conditions, which had battered the Shetland Islands for days, cancelling all ferry services, the 3,624 ton refrigerated cargo vessel Green Lily, with 15 crew, departed Lerwick in the early hours on 19 November 1997, loaded with frozen fish, and bound for West Africa.

miles out, she developed engine trouble. Two tugs were dispatched, but when the towline broke, the Lerwick lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon was called, along with Rescue Helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie from Sumburgh in Shetland.

The lifeboat arrived to find the vessel just over off shore, with the helicopter unable to assist due to the rolling of the ship. With great skill and expertise, the lifeboat was brought alongside many times, but the crew didn't seem to appreciate the danger they were in. Often, nobody was ready to leave. Eventually, five crewmen were taken off, not assisted by them bring luggage.

Various efforts with tow lines failed, but a tug managed to grapple the anchor chain, and pulled the boat around. The lifeboat then couldn't get close, but the helicopter could now help. Winchman William (Bill) Deacon was lowered to the boat, and he set about sending up the remaining 10 crewmen, two at a time.

As the last two men left the boat, leaving him alone, he was washed off the ship by a large wave. Lowering the winch cable a final time, it got snagged on the wreck. The Pilot had to make the decision to cut the cable, rather than risk the helicopter and all aboard, knowing that they then had no method to try to retrieve the Winchman. With no way of getting close, the lifeboat headed to port, dropped off their five survivors, and headed straight back out to try to find Mr Deacon, but with no success. William Deacon's body was later recovered. He was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his bravery that day. All the lifeboat crew were awarded RNLI Medals.

At the fatal accident inquiry at Lerwick Sheriff Court in August 1999, Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie concluded that "unnecessary and cumulative delays by the captain and 14 crew of the Bahamian-registered ship were largely to blame for Mr Deacon's death".

Today, the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Breitling UK, is awarded to winch paramedics and/or winch operators from contracted (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) helicopter bases operating in the UK and Irish SAR regions, for meritorious service during SAR helicopter operations.

Station honours The following are awards made at Lerwick: George Medal William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman – 2000 (post.) RNLI Gold Medal Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1998 The Maud Smith Award 1997 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1998 RNLI Silver Medal Miss Grace Tate – 1856 Miss Ellen Petrie – 1856 James Jamieson, Capt. fishing vessel Wild Wave – 1896 John Wood Sales, Coxswain – 1958 George Leith, Coxswain – 1973 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1995 James Michael Bower Endowment Fund, John Wood Sales, Coxswain – 1959 RNLI Bronze Medal John Wood Sales, Coxswain – 1957 Andrew Duncan Mouat, Pilot of Baltasound – 1958 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1983 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1989 (Second-Service Clasp) George Lamont Williamson, skipper/owner of the salmon work boat Challenge – 1991 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1993 (Third-Service Clasp) William John Clark, Joint Second Coxswain – 1994 Richie Simpson, Second Coxswain – 1998 Peter Thomson, Emergency Mechanic – 1998 Brian Laurenson, Emergency Mechanic – 1998 Ian Leask, crew member – 1998 Michael Grant, crew member – 1998 The Maud Smith Award 1993 William John Clark, Joint Second Coxswain – 1994 A special RNLI Vellum William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman – 1998 (post.) 'Collective Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' Norman Leask, Captain – 1998 David Gribben, Co-Pilot – 1998 Paul Mansell, Winch operator – 1998 William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman – 1998 (post.) 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' Lerwick Lifeboat Crew – 1973 George Leith, Coxswain – 1974 Andrew Leask, Assistant Mechanic – 1983 Ian Newlands, Emergency Mechanic – 1983 Robert Wiseman, crew member – 1989 Iain Tulloch, crew member – 1989 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1990 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1993 William J Clark, Joint Second Coxswain – 1994 Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1994 Ian Fraser, Emergency Mechanic – 1994 Robert Wiseman, crew member – 1994 Richard Simpson, crew member – 1994 Theo Nicolson, crew member – 1994 Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1995 Ian Fraser, crew member – 1995 Iain Tulloch, crew member – 1995 Robert Wiseman, crew member – 1995 Richard Simpson, crew member – 1995 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1995 'A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' John Wood Sales, BEM, Coxswain – 1969 Each of the seven members of the Lerwick lifeboat crew – 1969 James Christie – 1991 Theodore Fullerton – 1991 John William Ward – 1991 (all members of the Challenge crew). Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1995 Ian Fraser, crew member – 1995 Iain Tulloch, crew member – 1995 Richard Simpson, crew member – 1995 J Sinclair, crew member – 1995 'A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' Lerwick Lifeboat Coxswain and Crew – 1954 Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1992 Ian Fraser, Emergency Mechanic – 1992 Iain Tulloch, crew member – 1992 Robert Wiseman, crew member – 1992 Richard Simpson, crew member – 1992 Malcolm Craigie, crew member – 1992 Silver enamelled RAF crest, presented by No 18 Group RAF Lerwick lifeboat station – 1948 (It was fitted in lifeboat ON 731). Service Award Plaque, awarded by The Swedish Lifeboat Society Lerwick Lifeboat Station – 1957 Inscribed Binocular Glass G. T. Kay, Honorary Secretary – 1930 British Empire Medal John Wood Sales, Coxswain – 1968QBH Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1999QBH

Lerwick lifeboats All-weather lifeboats ON Op.No. Name Built Class Comments 731 − 1930 1930−1958 51-foot Barnett 943 − Claude Cecil Staniforth 1958 1958−1978 Transferred to . 1057 Soldian 1978 1978−1997 52-foot Arun Transferred to . 1221 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon 1997 1997− More post-service details can be found on the respective lifeboat class pages.

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

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External links Lerwick RNLI Lifeboat Station