Portsmouth Lifeboat Station

Portsmouth Lifeboat Station is located at Eastney Point near Southsea, on Portsea Island, in the English county of Hampshire. It sits facing Langstone Harbour on one of the tributaries flowing into the Solent. A lifeboat station was first established on Portsea Island at Southsea in 1886 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), but was closed in 1918. An Inshore lifeboat station was re-established at Eastney in May 1965. The station currently operates two Inshore lifeboats, a B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat, Norma T (B-846), on station since 23 October 2010, and a smaller D-class (IB1) lifeboat, The Dennis Faro (D-850), on station since 2020. History In 1886, the RNLI established a lifeboat station at Southsea. The location was considered to be an ideal position "whence a Life-boat can proceed, either under sail or in tow of the Admiralty or other steam-tugs, to shipwrecks along that coast and round the eastern approaches to Spithead." The Heyland (ON 34), a 37-foot 12-oared 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, built in 1882, was placed at Southsea. The Southsea station was closed in 1918 when the RNLI decided that the area was adequately covered by the stations at Hayling Island and Bembridge. For further information, please see: Southsea Lifeboat Station 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 stations were opened, and in May 1965, a lifeboat station was re-established on Portsea Island. Eastney Lifeboat Station opened with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-48). A boathouse was constructed at Eastney Point, facing Langstone Harbour. The first Inshore lifeboat (D-48) was paid for by funds raised by Hemel Hempstead Round Table. By 1967 the station was also operating a rigid hull inshore lifeboat, with the craft being kept at permanent anchor in the harbour at Eastney. At 03:15 on 7 September 1974, Eastney lifeboat station was alerted by Shoreham Coastguard. to red flares sighted in Langstone channel. The Inshore lifeboat D-184 was launched at 03:43, into a SSW force 9 gale. Arriving on scene 13 minutes later at 03:59, they found a man and boy, lashed both together, and to their boat, the motor cruiser Valon. With great skill in difficult conditions, the lifeboat was brought alongside, and both man and boy were recovered to the lifeboat. The return trip took twice as long as the outward trip due to the conditions, after which both casualties to transferred to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. For this service, all three lifeboat crew were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, crew member Dennis Faro receiving a second-service clasp to his previously won bronze medal. In 1975 a new B-class (Atlantic 21), Guide Friendship II (B-530) was placed on service, replacing the A-class (McLachlan) (A-505). A new boathouse was constructed to house both the B-class and D-class lifeboats. In 1978, the station name was formally changed to Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour) Lifeboat Station. The boat house was re-developed in 1991, at a cost of £90,000, and was officially opened on 27 October. Crew were provided with a changing/kit drying room, new toilet and shower facilities and a first aid reception room. Also within the building there is a workshop, training and briefing room, and a station office. In 1995, the station name was changed once again, becoming Portsmouth Lifeboat Station. An extension to the boathouse was completed in 2002. In 2009, the D-class (EA16) lifeboat Heyland II (D-554) was replaced by a new D-class (IB1) lifeboat. It was named Brian's Pride (D-716), funded by longtime lifeboat fundraisers Brian and Marilyn Bass. The boat served for 11 years, and during that time launched 341 times, aided 250 people, and saved 26 lives. The current B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat, Norma T (B-846), was placed on service in 2010, provided by the donation of Bob and Norma Thomas. In 2020, Brian's Pride (D-716) was replaced by The Dennis Faro (D-850), The boat was named in honour of the late former helm of Portsmouth lifeboat, Dennis Faro, twice awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal for gallantry, who died in 2006 age 80. Station honours The following are awards made at Portsmouth RNLI Bronze Medal Dennis Faro, Helm – 1973 Sydney Ronald Stanley Thayers, Helm – 1974 William Charles Hawkins, crew member – 1974 Dennis Faro, crew member – 1974 (Second-Service clasp) The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Dr I. T. McLachlan – 1965 D. Cook-Radmore – 1965 S. Thayers – 1965 Robert John Faro – 1967 Roy Richards – 1967 Dr I. T. McLachlan – 1970 P. Bannister – 1970 R. B. Needle – 1970 R. B. Needle – 1970 John Fletcher, Helm – 1972 Martin Icke, Helm – 1989 Paul Venton, crew member – 1989 Adrian West, crew member – 1989 Martin Icke, Helm – 1996 Paul Clark, crew member – 2005 Tobi O’Neill, crew member – 2005 Vellum Service Certificate Francis T. Hawkins, crew member – 1972 Graham Jewell, crew member – 1972 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution Stephen Alexander, Helmsman – 1988 Adrian West, crew member – 1988 Paul Venton, crew member – 1988 James Beach, crew member – 1988 John Brooks, Helm – 2005 A Letter of appreciation Lifeboat Crew – 1966 Portsmouth lifeboats D-class A-class B-class Neighbouring station locations See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats References