Eyemouth Lifeboat Station

Eyemouth Lifeboat Station is located at Gunsgreen Quay in Eyemouth, a harbour town in the Scottish Borders, approximately 9 miles (14 km) north of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on the south-east coast of Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed at Eyemouth in 1876 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The station currently operates a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat 13-29 Helen Hastings (ON 1336), on station since 2018, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Sheila (D-877), since 2023. History In December 1875, the town was visited by Capt. Gray-Jones, RNLI Assistant Inspector of Lifeboats, to assess the viability of a lifeboat placed here. With over 350 fishermen, there was an obvious case for a lifeboat, and a shortage of crew unlikely. A station was agreed. An order was placed with Woolfe of Shadwell for a 30-foot 8-oared self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, at a cost of £275. A launch carriage from Napton & Co. cost a further £117-5s-0d. A boathouse was constructed by Mr. J. Berry along the East Pier, along with a launchway, costing £517-10s-0d. Having been transported by rail from London to Burnmouth, the lifeboat and carriage were hauled by six horses through the town on 10 October 1876, to a ceremony at the beach, where the boat was named James & Rachel Grindlay by Mrs Grindlay, the boat being funded from the legacy of Mr. T Grindley of Edinburgh. A new boathouse was constructed in 1908, next to the old boathouse, but set 90° to face the river. Along with a new launchway, the total cost was £998-4s-11d. It was able to accommodate a slightly larger boat, the 35-foot Anne Francis (ON 592). The Anne Francis was launched on 6 March 1917 to the aid of the schooner Livlig of Norway, wrecked off St Abb's Head, One crewman had been lost, with the seven remaining crew clinging to the rigging. With considerable skill in violent seas, Coxswain William Miller got the lifeboat alongside, and the seven men were rescued. Considering the conditions, the lifeboat then made the long journey around to Granton, Edinburgh to find safe harbour. Coxswain Miller was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal. Eyemouth would get a motor-powered lifeboat in 1937. A Liverpool-class lifeboat, costing £3,835, with a top speed of 7.66 knots. At a ceremony on 21 Aug 1937, the boat was named Frank and William Oates (ON 795), the donor being their third brother Charles George Oates of Leeds. Frank Oates (1840–1875) was a British naturalist, and along with his brother William, had explored Africa. All three brothers were uncles to Capt. Lawrence Oates of the Scott Antarctic Terra Nova Expedition of 1910. Harbour works in 1963 would require the demolition of the lifeboat launchway. The station was closed temporarily, and the Clara and Emily Barwell (ON 893) was withdrawn. Replaced in 1964 by a larger 46ft Watson-class lifeboat, Swn-Y-Mor (Civil Service No.6), the Eyemouth lifeboats have since been moored afloat. A new single-story station building was constructed on Gunsgreen Quay in 1992, followed by the arrival in 1996 of a new Trent-class lifeboat 14-11 Barclaycard Crusader (ON 1209), a 25-knot boat, costing £1,060,000. A new £107,000 pontoon berth was constructed in 2008, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat was also placed on station in 2015. In 2018, the Trent-class lifeboat was withdrawn to the relief fleet, and Eyemouth would receive a £2.2 million Shannon-class lifeboat, 13-29 Helen Hastings (ON 1336) Station honours The following are awards made at Eyemouth. RNLI Silver Medal For the rescue of two skin-divers north west of Ebb Carr Rocks on 6 October 1990 James A. Dougal, Acting Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1991 RNLI Bronze Medal For the rescue of 7 men of the Norwegian steamer Livlig on 6 March 1917 William Miller, Coxswain – 1917 The Maud Smith Award 1990{small|(awarded for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)}} For the rescue of two skin-divers north west of Ebb Carr Rocks on 6 October 1990 James A. Dougal, Acting Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1991 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum For the rescue of two skin-divers north west of Ebb Carr Rocks on 6 October 1990 John Buchan, crewman – 1991 David Collin, crewman – 1991 George Walker, crewman – 1991 Joseph Walker, crewman – 1991 Robert Walker, crewman – 1991 Alister Crombie, crewman – 1991 For the rescue of three crew of the launch Norman Forster on 17 October 1992 John Johnston, Coxswain – 1993 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution For the rescue of three lives of the trawler Hatcliffe on 25 March 1983 A. Dougal, Coxswain – 1983 J. Aitchison, Second Coxswain – 1983 J. Tarvit, Second Coxswain/Mechanic – 1983 J. Dougal, Acting Assistant Mechanic – 1983 A. Redden, crew member – 1983 J. Buchan, crew member – 1983 J. Purves, crew member – 1983 I. Dougal, crew member – 1983 Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) John Duncan Johnston, former Coxswain – 2007NYH Eyemouth lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list. All-weather lifeboats Inshore lifeboats Launch and recovery tractors See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Eyemouth RNLI station page Local History Site with pictures of old Lifeboats and Lifeboat men Facebook page with updates from the current crew and staff