Looe Lifeboat Station

Looe Lifeboat Station
Looe lifeboat station in 2007
Looe Lifeboat Station is located in Cornwall
Looe Lifeboat Station
Location within Cornwall
General information
TypeLifeboat station
LocationAlbatross boathouse, Church End, East Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1AH, United Kingdom
Coordinates50°21′07″N 4°27′12″W / 50.3520°N 4.4532°W / 50.3520; -4.4532
Opened28 December 1866
Cost1866: £220
2003: £750,000
Owner RNLI
Website
Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name
Watch tower studio and former lifeboat shed
Designated17 September 1973
Reference no.1201098

Looe Lifeboat Station can be found on the east side of the River Looe at Chapel End in Looe, a seaside resort approximately 16 miles (26 km) west of Plymouth, at the western end of Whitsand Bay, on the south-east coast of the county of Cornwall, England.

A lifeboat station was established at Looe by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1866, operating for 64 years until its closure in 1930. An Inshore lifeboat station was established in 1992.[1]

B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894)

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Sheila & Dennis Tongue II (B-894), on station since 2016, and the smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II (D-872), on station since 2022.[2]

History

To the east of Looe is the expanse of Whitsand Bay where many sailing ships became embayed, unable to sail around Rame Head to reach the safety of Plymouth Sound.[3]

There were many wrecks in the Looe area before the lifeboat station was opened and the Coastguards made many rescues. 27 November 1838 saw the brig Belissima hit rocks near Looe Island. William Jennings swam out to the ship with a rope to save the crew of 13. He was awarded the silver medal by the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (the RNIPLS, as the RNLI was originally known). The French brig Fletan ran ashore sear Seaton in Whitsand Bay on 14 February 1851 but the nine people on board were saved by coastguards who waded into the sea with a rope. Another RNIPLS silver medal was awarded, this time to John Anderson.[4][5]

At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 8 April 1866, the letter of 21 March was read from Sir John Pollard Willoughby, Bt., who had forwarded the gift of £420 towards the cost of a lifeboat and its equipment. At his request, the boat was to be named Oxfordshire, after his native county, and he approved the appropriation to a new station at Looe.[6]

1866 boathouse

A 34-foot-long (10 m) self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat was constructed by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, at a cost of £248, and forwarded along with its transporting and launching carriage to Liskeard by rail, conveyed at no charge, by the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, South Devon and Cornwall Railway Companies.[7]

The boat was then transported to Looe, where "The inhabitants were very desirous ...to have a life-boat - there being a large number of vessels frequently entering and quitting the harbour. There were plenty of fishermen available to form the crew; and, as every kind of co-operation was offered, the Society readily decided to establish a life-boat at Looe". After being paraded through the streets on 28 December 1866, the boat was taken to the new boathouse, which was "somewhat ornamental in character", built at a cost of £220. After being named Oxfordshire, the lifeboat was launched on demonstration.[7][8]

Oxfordshire was launched on service 14 times, saving 14 lives. In 1882, a new lifeboat, again built by Woolfe, and one of two funded from donations made by the readers of the Boys' Own magazine. At a ceremony on 21 July, it was named Boys' Own No.1 (ON 45).[9]

Boys' Own No.1 was launched to the aid of the French vessel Gypsy, which ran aground at Downderry on 7 December 1901. The lifeboat stood by for more than two hours while the ship's captain tried to pump out water. The crew eventually decided to abandon their ship. 14 were taken aboard the lifeboat, with five more taking to the ship's boat, which was towed to Looe. Three kittens on the Gypsy were also brought ashore. The French government awarded a gold medal, second class, to coxswain Edwards Toms, with silver medals, second class, to the rest of the crew.[10][11]

The third and last P&S lifeboat at Looe arrived on 25 May 1902. The slightly larger 35 ft (11 m) lifeboat was built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, at a cost of £836, and was named Ryder (ON 489), funded from the legacy of Mr William Ryder of Brixton. The lifeboat had a reasonable record, launching 12 times, and saving 37 people, in her 28 years on station. However, in view of motor-powered lifeboats placed at Plymouth in 1926, and another at Fowey in 1928, at a meeting of the committee of management on 10 April 1930, it was decided to close Looe Lifeboat Station. Ryder (ON 489) was sold from service.[12][13]

1992 onwards

The old 1866 station with tower (left) and temporary 1992 station (right).

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.[14]

More stations were opened gradually, but it was only on 27 November 1991 that the RNLI Committee of Management decided to place a D class lifeboat at Looe, for just one season on operational evaluation. A D-class (EA16) Inshore lifeboat (D-355) arrived on station on 15 June 1992. The boat was given temporary accommodation in the Beach shelter, belonging to the East Looe Town Trust, pictured to the right of the original lifeboat station.[11]

1998 East Quay boathouse, now an Ice Cream parlour

A permanent Inshore lifeboat, the D-class (EA16) Spirit of RAOC (D-461), was placed at Looe on 12 August 1994. However, the boathouse proved less than permanent, and had to be returned to the East Looe Town Trust. For a time, the lifeboat and kit were kept in two shipping containers. A property was acquired along East Quay, at Middleton Corner on Buller street, and after conversion, became the new lifeboat station on 11 June 1998, with the D-class lifeboat launched into the river via Davit.[11]

However, it was soon decided to increase the Inshore lifeboat capability, and place a larger twin-engine Rigid inflatable B-class lifeboat at Looe. The small corner boathouse was now clearly too small, and a site was acquired on the sea-front, formerly the site of the Albatross net lofts, and latterly the home to a Miniature golf attraction.[11][15]

A purpose-built lifeboat station, Albatross House, able to house both lifeboats, with up-to-date crew facilities and a souvenir shop, was constructed at a cost of £763,297, and opened on 18 October 2003. The B-class (Atlantic 75) Inshore lifeboat Alan and Margaret (B-793) was placed on service.[11][15]

On reaching his 70th birthday on 30 October 2024, David Haines stood down from his role as Lifeboat Operations Manager. He joined the station in 1992, and has been a crew member, Launching Authority, and since 2004, Operations Manager. David John Haines was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2025 New Year Honours, for services to maritime safety, and started a new role as chair of the Looe lifeboat management group.[16][17]

Description

The first boathouse stands close to the beach at East Looe. Because of its prominent position it was built in a decorative Italianate style. The walls are from granite rubble with red brick arches and string courses; the roof is slate. An assembly and reading room for the use of local sailors was provided above the boathouse with a two-storey tower on the east side. It was given listed building status in 1973.[7][18]

The new building of 2003 also has granite walls and a slate roof to be in keeping with the old lifeboat station and other nearby buildings. The main building has crew facilities and space for the two inshore lifeboats with their tractors. There is a meeting room and office above the boat house, and a fund-raising shop attached on the north side. A new slipway was created at the same time to give a quick launch into the river.[15][19]

Station honours

The following are awards made at Looe:[4][10][11]

  • RNIPLS Silver Medal
    William Jennings, Commissioned Boatswain, H.M. Coastguard, Looe – 1838
    John Gurndsall Anderson, Chief officer, H.M. Coastguard, Downderry – 1851
  • Gold Medal, 2nd class, awarded by The French Government
    Edward Toms, Coxswain – 1902
  • Silver Medal, 2nd class, awarded by The French Government
    Albert Bettison, crew member – 1902
    Ernest Bettison, crew member – 1902
    Stephen Cox, crew member – 1902
    Joseph Fletcher, crew member – 1902
    Ben Menhenick, crew member – 1902
    Percy Pearn, crew member – 1902
    Ben Pengelly, crew member – 1902
    Thomas Pengelly, crew member – 1902
    Francis Taylor, crew member – 1902
    Charles Toms, crew member – 1902
    Thomas Toms, crew member – 1902
    Robert Whynall, crew member – 1902

Looe lifeboats

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

On station[20] ON[a] Name Built Class Comments[21]
1866–1882 Pre-475 Oxfordshire 1866 34-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Returned to London and broken up in 1882.
1882–1902 45 Boys' Own No.1 1882 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2][22][23]
Sold locally in 1902.
1902–1930 489 Ryder 1902 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
Sold in 1930. Renamed Halmay III. and converted to a houseboat by 1958. It was wrecked in 1987 but rescued for preservation as Ryder, at Charlestown, Cornwall, August 2024.
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats

D class

On station[24] Op.No.[b] Name Class Comments
1992–1993 D-355 Unnamed D-class (EA16) Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1988.
1994 D-396 Starting Point D-class (EA16) Initially deployed as a relief lifeboat in 1989.
1994–2002 D-461 Spirit of RAOC D-class (EA16) Later stationed at Workington and Anstruther.
2002–2010 D-574 Regina Mary D-class (EA16)
2010–2022 D-741 Ollie Naismith D-class (IB1)
2022– D-872 Ollie Naismith II D-class (IB1)

B class

On station[25] Op.No.[b] Name Class Comments
2003–2016 B-793 Alan and Margaret B-class (Atlantic 75) Transferred to the relief fleet. Later at Burry Port.
2016– B-894 Sheila & Dennis Tongue II B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launch and recovery tractors

On station[26] Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type Comments
2003–2019 TW57Hc DX03 UZF Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk.2)
2010 TA66 WK05 EBA New Holland TC27D
2010– TA107 WA60 DHM New Holland B3045
2019– TW36Hc N805 XUJ Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk.2)
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 3 Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) x 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) (10-oared) Prowse-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Sir John Pollard Willoughby, Bt., built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £248.
  2. ↑ 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m) x 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m) (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Boys' Own newspaper LB fund, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £329.
  3. ↑ 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) x 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. Ryder of Brixton, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £836.

References

  1. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 102.
  2. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2026, p. 112.
  3. ↑ Leach, Nicholas (2023). Looe Lifeboats. Foxglove Publishing. pp. 6–8. ISBN 9781909540163.
  4. 1 2 Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. pp. 63, 96. ISBN 0907605893.
  5. ↑ "Ship News". The Standard. No. 4508. London. 1 December 1838.
  6. ↑ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee". The Life-boat. VI (62): 225. 1 October 1866. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Life-boat. VI (65): 458. 1 July 1867. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Annual Report 1867". The Life-boat. VI (64): 270. 1 April 1867. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Farr & Morris 1992, pp. 51, 55.
  10. 1 2 Leach 2023, pp. 9–13.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Looe's station history". Looe Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Summary of the Meetings of the Committee of Management". The Life-boat. XXVIII (303): 148. September 1930. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Farr & Morris 1992, p. 69.
  14. ↑ "Inshore Rescue Boats". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (407): 3. March 1964. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 Leach 2023, pp. 36–43.
  16. ↑ Foster, Ian (1 November 2024). "Looe's Lifeboat Operations Manager retires after 32 years of voluntary service". RNLI. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". 2025 Birthday Honours. London Gazette. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Watch tower studio and former lifeboat shed". Historic England. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  19. ↑ "Shoreworks". The Lifeboat. 59 (568): 27–28. 2004.
  20. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 12–35.
  21. ↑ Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 51, 55, 69.
  22. ↑ "Looe". The Cornishman. No. 210. 20 July 1882. p. 5.
  23. ↑ "Additional stations and new life-boats". Life-boat. Vol. 11, no. 126. 1882. pp. 656–657.
  24. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 74–82.
  25. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 65–67.
  26. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 91–92.

Further reading

  • Bird, Sheila (1991). Mayday! Preserving Life from Shipwrecks off Cornwall. Ex Libris Press. ISBN 0-948578319.
  • Leach, Nicholas (2006). Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage. Twelveheads Press. ISBN 0-906294436.
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