Buckie Lifeboat Station

Buckie Lifeboat Station can be found on Commercial Road in Buckie, a harbour town on the south shore of the Moray Firth, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) east of the mouth of the River Spey, in the administrative region of Moray, historically Banffshire, on the coast of NE Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed at Buckie by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1860. The station currently operates 17-37 William Blannin (ON 1268), a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2003. History A request in February 1860 from Commander McDonald, Inspector of H.M. Coastguard, that a lifeboat be placed at Buckie, was considered and accepted by the RNLI Committee of Management, and was formally agreed on 5 April 1860. An order for a lifeboat was placed with Forrestt of Limehouse, London, who constructed a 30-foot Peake-class type 6-oared self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (6) oars. The lifeboat, which was named Miriam, arrived by rail on 10 November 1860. A boathouse was commissioned, costing £140-9s. The site of the boathouse is thought to have been on the west shore of Buckie Burn, now near Union Terrace, where the Great North of Scotland Railway bridge was later constructed. Miriam was only launched 3 times on service, but she is also recorded to have saved 49 lives over those 3 occasions. She was converted to be a 10-oared boat in 1866, but by 1870, the RNLI had decided to replace her with a larger 33-foot lifeboat. A new boat was ordered, again from Forrestt of London, at a cost of £277-17s-6d. It was transported free of charge by the North Eastern, Caledonian and Great North of Scotland railway companies. The boat arrived in Portsoy on 25 January 1871, from where it was pulled on a carriage by a team of horses 10 miles (16 km) to Buckie, to be greeted by 3000 people. Two bands joined the procession down to the boathouse, where the boat was named James Sturm, to recognise the legacy of Mr. James Sturm of Holborn. As part of the ongoing redevelopment of Buckie harbour, the RNLI were contacted by the Great North of Scotland railway company in 1883, who wished to extend their lines, and needed the land where the 1860 boathouse stood. A deal was struck, and the boathouse and land were sold for just over £121. A new boathouse (shown right) was constructed on Low Street in 1885, costing £447-19s-0d, but it is not known if this was paid for by the RNLI, or the gift of the railway company. Buckie received their first powered lifeboat in 1922, a 40ft Watson-class non-self-righting lifeboat, with a single 45-hp engine, giving a speed of 7.36kts. She was named K. B. M. (ON 81) in recognition of her late benefactors, Mr. William Kirkhope, Mr Charles Bailey, and Miss Charlotte McInroy. This boat required the construction of a new boathouse, and it was one of only two built of this design, the other one being at Sunderland. With insufficient room for a conventional slipway, the boathouse was built over the water, on the west pier, and utilised an internal boat platform, which could be lowered down to the water underneath. The 1922 boathouse was used until 1984, when Buckie received an Arun-class lifeboat, 52-27 Charles Brown (ON 1093), which was moored afloat. Further works were carried out to create new crew facilities in 1995, and a pontoon berth was constructed, which is now home to Severn-class lifeboat, 17-37 William Blannin (ON 1268). In 2018, the recently restored 47ft Watson-class lifeboat Laura Moncur (ON 958) made a return trip to her old station, 34 years after she last departed, and received an emotional reception from her former crew members. Notable rescues In the very early hours of 21 February 1968, relief lifeboat George and Sarah Strachan (ON 749) was launched to the aid of fishing boat Mistletoe, aground at the mouth of the River Spey. The boat was found close to the beach, in heavy swell and pounding waves. Working in dark and freezing conditions, attempts to get a tow-line in place failed, so Coxswain Jappy skillfully brought the lifeboat alongside, and all six crew were rescued. They were given rum and hot drinks, and landed in Buckie just before 05:00. For this service, Coxswain George Alexander Jappy was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, with the crew being awarded Medal Service Certificates. Station honours The following are awards made at Buckie: RNLI Silver Medal Peter Fernie, Fisherman – 1890 William Raich, Fisherman – 1890 RNLI Bronze Medal George Alexander Jappy, Coxswain – 1968 Medal Service Certificates Buckie Lifeboat Crew – 1968 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum James Gale, Coxswain – 1868 Francis Mair, Coxswain – 1942 George Jappy, Coxswain – 1967 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution John Murray, Coxswain – 1987 Kenneth Farquhar, Acting Second Coxswain – 1987 George Stewart, Motor Mechanic – 1987 Philip Latchem, crew member – 1987 Gordon Lawtie, crew member – 1987 Steven Matheson, crew member – 1987 John Murray, Coxswain – 1991 Plaque of Merit, awarded by the Swedish Lifeboat Society Royal National Lifeboat Institution – 1949 A Diploma, awarded by the Swedish Lifeboat Society Buckie Lifeboat Station – 1949 British Empire Medal John Cole, Motor Mechanic – 1974NYH Buckie lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list. Motor lifeboats See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Buckie RNLI Lifeboat Station