# RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702)

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702) was an Atlantic 75-class lifeboat rigid-inflatable inshore lifeboat on station at the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The boat was a permanent replacement for the Atlantic 21-class lifeboat RNLB B-536 which served at Sheringham from 29 January 1994.

## Funding and new equipment

Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was the very first Atlantic 75-class of lifeboat to be placed on permanent service at an RNLI station in the United Kingdom, reinforcing the faith and investment in the continuing future of the Sheringham station. The new lifeboat was built at a cost of £61,000 and this was funded by the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, who through this new boat maintained their strong link with the Sheringham branch of the RNLI. The organisation had, in the past, funded the long serving Oakley-class lifeboat RNLB The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960). The Oddfellows also funded a new powerful tractor to launch the new lifeboat. The tractor, a Talus four wheel drive hydrostatic mode TW24H (registration No. K313 ENT) cost the sum of £147,000. To launch, the new tractor would propel the lifeboat on its carriage trailer, reversing down to the beach on the concrete slipway and pull it back up on retrieval.

## Description

The Atlantic 75-class superseded the Atlantic 21-class. The name Atlantic is derived from Atlantic College in Wales, where the rigid inflatable B-class was first developed. The designation 75 is derived from its length of nearly 7.5 m (25 ft). A significant improvement to this class over the 21 is the addition of a ballast tank installed at the front of the lifeboat which enables the craft to launch into larger surf than the previous class. The ballast when full, either of sea water or water from a hose, weighs the same as three fully grown men. The lifeboat has a crew of three and has a top speed of 32 kn (59 km/h) and can operated in severe weather conditions up to winds of near gale force. The design incorporates twin outboard engines which are completely waterproofed, even if totally immersed. The hull of the lifeboat is constructed from Glass Reinforced plastic with a hypalon coated polyester which is highly resistant attack by marine organisms, chemicals and temperature extremes. The lifeboat had a displacement of 1.6 tonnes. Her equipment included two VHF radios, First Aid Kit & oxygen, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, towing system, illuminating and distress pyrotechnics, spotlight, torches. The rollbar assembly installed above the engines contains a self-righting bag which was operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.

## Service

Manchester Unity of Oddfellows first service took place on 1 April 1994 when she was launched to assist local fishing boats. In gusting winds of up to force nine, heavy rain and in poor visibility. The fishing boats had been caught out by the weather. Two of the boats had managed to make it back to shore. The third was called Alison Cathleen with one man aboard. The vessel had turned head to wind but her engine was working on a reduced power. The lifeboat took her into tow and beached her safely.

### Relief Lifeboats

During the period of Manchester Unity of Oddfellows service at Sheringham, she was relieved five times by reserve Atlantic 75-class lifeboats. Three of these periods the RNLB Vera Skilton (B-705) took up station as relief. The other two periods were stationed by RNLB Susan Peacock (B-701) and RNLB Eva Pank (B-756).

## Rescue and service

This record includes of the relief lifeboats during the period of service of Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702)
* RNLB Susan Peacock (B-700)
* RNLB Vera Skilton (B-705)
* RNLB Eva Pank (B-756)
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 :
| Date | Casualty | Lives saved |
| 1994 |||
| 1 April | Fishing boat Alison Cathleen, saved boat | 1 |
| Susan Peacock B-700 Relief lifeboat |||
| 1994 |||
| 20 May | Fishing boat, escorted boat | |
| Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 |||
| 1994 |||
| 26 July | Two sailboards, gave help | |
| Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat |||
| 1994 |||
| 27 November | Barge Polly, gave help | |
| Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 |||
| 1995 |||
| 23 March | Fishing vessel Verity Ellen, boat and one person brought in | |
| 12 April | Fishing vessel Carrie Anne, boat and two people brought in | |
| 21 April | Fishing vessel Samara, boat and one person brought in | |
| 25 April | Motor fishing vessels Blue Boy, Scout and My Girl II, escorted boats | |
| 26 July | Motor fishing vessels Blue Boy and My Girl II, escorted boats | |
| 1996 |||
| 28 May | Fishing vessel Laura Jane, boat and three people brought in | |
| 4 July | Fishing vessel Blue Boy, boat and one person brought in | |
| Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat |||
| 1996 |||
| 11 September | Fishing vessel Blue Boy, boat and one person brought in | |
| 1997 |||
| 9 July | Three Divers | 3 |
| Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 |||
| 1997 |||
| 13 September | Motor fishing vessels Mizpah and Valerie Theresa, escorted boats | |
| Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat |||
| 1998 |||
| 25 February | Injured man on board fishing vessel Katie Girl, Man brought in | |
| 28 February | Sailboard, gave help | |
| 3 April | Motor fishing vessels Anna Gail, Sarah Jayne, Verity Ellen and Sheila Joyce, escorted boats | |
| May 22 | Fishing vessel, stood by | |
| May 29 | Fishing vessel, escorted craft | |
| Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 |||
| 1998 |||
| 24 August | Motor cruiser Fairlie Knackered, escorted craft | |
| 29 September | Yacht Sissi, Saved craft | 1 |
| 14 October | Fishing vessel Johnathan James, boat and two people brought in | |
| 1999 |||
| 5 April | Yacht, boat and one person brought in. | |
| 6 May | Fishing vessel, escorted craft | |
| 18 May | Motor boat, boat and two people brought in. | |
| 10 July | Dive support craft Desert Moon Six divers, stood by craft | 6 |
| Eva Pank B-756 Relief Lifeboat |||
| 1999 |||
| 2 August | Two divers | 2 |
| Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702 |||
| 1999 |||
| 6 September | Two people stranded | 2 |
| 2000 |||
| 14 March | Fishing vessel Tradewinds, boat brought in | |
| 23 April | Fiashing vessel, craft brought in. | |
| 24 April | Powerboat, two people and craft brought in. | |
| 27 May | Fishing vessel Minuet, stood by. | |
| 28 May | Yacht Panter, escorted vessel. | |
| 6 August | Speedboat Diminished Responsibility, Boat and three people brought in. | |
| 27 August | Powerboat Independence, Craft brought in | 7 |
| 12 September | Fishing vessel Lynn Anne, gave help | |
| 13 September | Fishing vessel Fin-Ar-Bed, assisted to save craft | |
| 2001 |||
| 23 March | Fishing vessel Tradewinds, craft brought in. | |
| 4 April | Fishing vessel Providence II, craft brought in. | |
| 7 August | Jet Ski, saved craft | 1 |
| 7 August | Canoe, sved craft | 1 |
| 24 August | Powerboat, boat and three people brought in | |
| 26 August | Sick diver on diving boat Calypso, landed 2 people and craft brought in. | 1 |
| 12 September | Jet ski, gave help. | |
| 2002 |||
| 9 January | Fishing vessel Zuider Zee, stood by | |
| 18 June | Man over board from sailboard, saved board and landed one man | 1 |
| 3 August | Skiff, three people and craft brought in | |
| 24 October | Yacht Quay Sweep, Saved craft | 4 |
| 24 November | Sailboard, craft brought in. | |
| 30 November | Yacht Kumple, Boat and one person brought in | |
| 2003 |||
| 9 April | Two persons cut off by the tide at Stiffkey, stood by | |
| 12 May | Fishing vessel Laura Jane, stood by | |
| 20 June | Crab boat Lisa Diane, craft brought in. | |
| 24 June | Fishing boat Alison Katherine, craft brought in. | |
| 31 August | Catamaran, stood by. | |
| 1 September | Sailing dinghy, stood by | |
| 2004 |||
| 3 April | Fishing vessel, Boat and one person brought in | |
| 18 April | Fishing boat Alison Katherine, one person and craft brought in. | |
| 2005 |||
| 15 June | Sailing dinghy Warthog, craft brought in. | |
| 18 July | Inflatable dinghy, stood by | |
| 1 August | Fishing boat Blue Boy, One person and craft brought in. | |
| 7 October | Fishing boat Samara, One person and craft brought in. | |
| 20 November | Fishing boat Harriot Jane, two people and craft brought in. | |
| 2006 |||
| 3 January | Fishing boat Lisa Diane, two people and craft brought in. | |
| 8 May | Fishing boat Trade Winds, escorted vessel | |
| 24 June | Tanks partially submerged in the sea, gave help | |
| 6 July | Yacht Blue Celeste, gave help | |
| 9 August | Yacht Gilly, one person and craft brought in. | |
| 23 September | Person in the sea, gave help | |
| 2007 |||
| 17 February | Person in sea | 1 |