Aberdeen Lifeboat Station

Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is located at the entrance to Victoria Dock, in Aberdeen, a port city which sits at the mouth of the River Dee, in the historic county of Aberdeenshire, on the east coast of Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed at Aberdeen in 1802 by the Aberdeen Shipmaster Society, taken over by the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners in 1810. The management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1925. The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, the 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248), on station since 2000, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, the Buoy Woody 85N (D-830), on station since 2018. History In a great storm of January 1800, a considerable number of ships were wrecked off the Aberdeenshire coast. This prompted moves for a lifeboat in Aberdeen. However, public donations failed to be sufficient, and it was Alexander Baxter of Glassel, Lord Rector of Marischal College, who would fund the first lifeboat for the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society. A 30-foot 10-oared lifeboat was constructed by Henry Greathead of South Shields, arriving in Aberdeen in 1802. Only one boat of this type survives to this day, and is on display at Zetland lifeboat museum in Redcar. The lifeboat was stationed at Footdee, on the north side on the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour, at the mouth (or foot) of the River Dee. The first lifeboat house is marked next to the Observatory (Port Entrance Control Tower) at Abercromby Jetty, on Thomas Telford's map of 1828, although the Greathead lifeboat is recorded as being wrecked in March 1820. No other details are known. In 1853, the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners purchased the "Beach" lifeboat, the Bon Accord, which had a carriage for transportation and launching, and was stationed at the north corner of North Square, Footdee. A second "Harbour" lifeboat was provided in 1875, Bon Accord No. 2, which was suspended in a shed above the water, at the landing jetty at Lower Quay. Just one lifeboat crew, a Master, Mate and 10 men, were selected each year from the harbour pilots, as it was thought highly unlikely that both boats would be required at the same time. Both lifeboats were still in service in 1924, Aberdeen lifeboats estimated to have rescued a total of 589 lives by that date. Two self-righting lifeboats, of unrecorded dimensions, were presented to the Kincardine Lifeboat Association at Stonehaven, and to the Fishermens Committee in Aberdeen in 1854, the gifts of Miss Lydia Ann Barclay of Aberdeen, a minister for the Society of Friends. The Stonehaven crew ultimately refused to use their boat, as it was too heavy, and didn't actually self-right. Whilst no further details can be found for the Aberdeen boat, and with both boats having been constructed by Skinner of Aberdeen, it is likely to have suffered the same fate. Transfer to RNLI The RNLI committee of management had for some time felt that it would be in the best interest of everyone, if the management of the Aberdeen lifeboats was taken over by the RNLI. The issue was discussed in both 1900 and 1915, but ultimately, the Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners concluded that "no advantage would be gained by the transference of the service to the Institution." On 13 October 1923, the Aberdeen fishing trawler Imperial Prince was wrecked off Belhelvie. The Aberdeen Harbour lifeboat was launched, but broached as she approached the wreck. Four lifeboat men were washed overboard, but all regained the lifeboat. The Newburgh lifeboat James Stevens No. 19 (ON 459) was pulled 7 miles (11 km) overland to the scene, where with 11 crew from HMS Vampire and HMS Vendetta, both vessels had been at Aberdeen at the time, she was launched four times to the wreck. With assistance from the Peterhead lifeboat, and the Coastguard Rocket Brigade, seven of the nine crew of the trawler were rescued. Two silver medals, and one bronze medal, were awarded for gallantry that day. Soon afterwards, discussions were held, with a view to the RNLI taking over management of the lifeboats. The RNLI brought a motor-lifeboat to Aberdeen on demonstration. At this time, one of the lifeboats still in use at Aberdeen was 70-years-old. After much discussion, the lifeboats and equipment of Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners were handed over to the RNLI on 1 January 1925. The first RNLI lifeboat, placed on service temporarily at the No.1 station in 1925, was Reserve No.7C (ON 505) from the Relief fleet, a 40-foot Watson-class 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, with oars and sails. However, this boat was replaced the following year, with a motor-powered 60-foot Barnett lifeboat, Emma Constance (ON 693), one of only three of this type and size to enter service with the RNLI. Too large to be housed in a boathouse, from this time, the No.1 station lifeboat would be permanently afloat. Also arriving on service in 1925, and placed at the No.2 station at North Square, Footdee, was the 34-foot self-righting (P&S) lifeboat Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669). She would later serve at Whitby from 1947 until 1957, the last 'Pulling and Sailing' lifeboat on service with the RNLI. The boat has been restored, and is currently on display at the RNLI Lifeboat Museum at Whitby. A legacy of £1,350 left to the Harbour Commissioners in 1894, which with accumulated interest amounted to nearly £3,000, was transferred to the RNLI in 1925, to defray the cost of a new lifeboat. The Liverpool-class lifeboat George and Elizabeth Gow (ON 827), eventually costing over £16,000, was placed on service in 1939. Between 1924 and 1962, the No.2 station boat was launched on service only seven times, the majority of calls being taken by the larger No.1 station motor lifeboat. The No.2 station was formally closed on 23 April 1962. After some years unused, and then a period with the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, the building was demolished. On Wednesday 8 September 1976, the bright orange colour of Aberdeen's new 54-foot Arun-class All-weather lifeboat contrasted with the otherwise grey day at Regent Quay, where a crowd had assembled for the naming ceremony. Music was provided by the Royal Marines Band, and the Grampian Police Pipe Band. Major Sir David Edward Charles Steel , chairman of British Petroleum, formally handed over the lifeboat to the RNLI, the company having donated £100,000 towards the cost. A cheque for £7000 was then presented to the RNLI, on behalf of the 'Students of Aberdeen', to defray the costs of the lifeboat's electronic equipment. After a service of dedication, the lifeboat was named 52-05 B.P. Forties (ON 1050). In 2000, Aberdeen station would receive their sixth 'afloat' lifeboat, the Severn-class All-weather lifeboat 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248), funded primarily from the legacy of Miss Janette Reid and the 'Aberdeen Lifeboat Appeal'. Station honours The following are awards made at Aberdeen: RNIPLS Gold Medal Lt. Henry Randall, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1825 RNIPLS Silver Medal Lt. John Procter Sanderson, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1830 Lt. Thomas William Langton, RN, H.M. Coastguard – 1830 James Robinson, Steam Tug Owner – 1844 RNLI Silver Medal Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain – 1937 Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain – 1937 (Second-Service clasp) Albert William Bird, Coxswain – 1974 Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic – 1974 RNLI Bronze Medal Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain – 1936 Alexander Weir, Mechanic – 1937 John Masson, crew member – 1937 George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain – 1937 Robert James Brown Esson, Acting Motor Mechanic – 1937 Charles Begg, Second Coxswain – 1976 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain – 1937 James Cowper, Second Assistant Mechanic – 1937 Robert James Brown Esson, Assistant Mechanic – 1937 John M. Noble, crew member – 1937 Alexander S Masson, crew member – 1937 George Alan Flett, Coxswain – 1953 George Alan Flett, Coxswain – 1956 George Walker, Assistant Mechanic – 1974 F. Cruickshank, crew member – 1974 A. Walker, crew member – 1974 Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic – 1976 Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) William Grieve Deans, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2018QBH British Empire Medal Rebecca Allen – 2024KBH Aberdeen lifeboats Shipmaster Society / Harbour Commissioners Fisherman's Committee RNLI lifeboats No. 1 Station (harbour) No. 2 Station (Footdee) Station Closed, 23 April 1962 Launch and recovery tractors (Aberdeen No.2) Station Closed, 23 April 1962 Inshore lifeboats See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Aberdeen RNLI Lifeboat Station