# Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station

Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station is located at the end of Harbour Road, on the west bank of the River Rother estuary, in the village of Rye Harbour, in the county of East Sussex.
An lifeboat was first stationed at nearby Winchelsea by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.
The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Hello Herbie II (B-900), on station since 2017.

## History

In addition to the lifeboat already stationed at Rye (Camber Sands), it was decided to locate another lifeboat 8 mi (13 km) further west, and Winchelsea Lifeboat Station was opened in 1862. A 30-foot unnamed Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed on station.
On 13 February 1864, William C. Buck, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard, was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue of just one man, the Master, of the five crew of the fishing boat Thetis, but this was at the cost of coastguard man, G. Terry, who was lost during the rescue.
The first lifeboat would be replaced after just five years, in 1867, with a larger 33-foot boat, named Storm Sprite. Soon after 18:45 on 22 December 1877, the Storm Sprite was launched to the aid of the schooner Vier Broders, on passage from Groningen to Portsmouth, when she stranded in low water and later broke up. Four crew were rescued from the rigging.
In 1882, a new lifeboat house was constructed by a local builder, Mr M. Anne, on the shore at Winchelsea, at a cost of £245. Built of pre-cast "no-fines" shingle based concrete, it was funded from RNLI donations.
Both the Rye and Winchelsea lifeboats were launched to the aid of the steamship Medea on 4 November 1882. 16 crew were taken off the Medea by the Rye lifeboat. The Winchelsea lifeboat was capsized twice during her rescue attempts, and crewman Edward Robus was swept away and drowned.
In 1901 Rye Lifeboat Station was closed. Winchelsea lifeboat station was renamed Rye Harbour Lifeboat Station in 1910.
The 35-foot lifeboat John William Dudley (ON 453), on station since 1900, was replaced in 1916, with a 38-foot Liverpool-class lifeboat, named Mary Stanford (ON 661).
On the 15 November 1928, Rye Harbour lifeboat Mary Stanford (ON 661) was launched into a south west gale, to the aid of the Alice of Riga. News was received that the crew had been rescued by another vessel, and the recall signal was fired three times - but was never heard. Entering the harbour on its return, the lifeboat was seen to capsize, and all 17 crew were lost.
A memorial tablet made of Manx stone was presented to Rye Harbour by the people of the Isle of Man. A memorial stained glass window was placed in Winchelsea Church. It depicts a lifeboat putting out to a ship in distress while figures on the shore watch it as it goes.
Rye Harbour lifeboat station was closed soon afterwards, with the boat being broken up.
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 June 1966, a lifeboat station at Rye Harbour was re-established, with the arrival of a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat, the unnamed (D-105).
In preparation for the arrival of a new B-class (Atlantic 75), a new boathouse was constructed in 1996, to be shared with the National River Authority. In addition to housing the Atlantic-class lifeboat, bespoke 'Drive-Off - Drive On' (Do-Do) trailer, and Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor, new crew facilities were provided, with a kit room, workshop and toilets, and a retail outlet. A new timber slipway and an elevated walkway leading to the boathouse was also constructed. At a double ceremony on 19 October 1996, the boathouse was officially opened, along with the naming of the new B-class (Atlantic 75) lifeboat Commander & Mrs Rodney Wells (B-727).

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Rye Harbour.
* RNLI Silver Medal
       William Cumming Buck, RN, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard - 1864
* A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       Keith W. Downey, Helm - 1981

## Roll of Honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Rye Harbour lifeboat.
* Swept out of the lifeboat and lost, on service to the fishing boat Thetis, 13 February 1864
       G. Terry, H.M. Coastguard
* Lost when the lifeboat Storm Sprite capsized twice on service to the steamship Medea of Sunderland, 4 November 1882
       Edward Robus
* Lost when the lifeboat Mary Stanford (ON 661) capsized on service to the vessel Alice, 15 November 1928
       Herbert Head, Coxswain (47)
       James Alfred Head (19)
       John Stanley Head (17)
       Joseph Stonham, Second Coxswain (43)
       Henry Cutting, Bowman (39)
       Roberts Redvers Cutting (28)
       Albert Ernest Cutting (26)
       Charles Frederick David Pope (28)
       Robert Henry Pope (23)
       Lewis Alexander Pope (21)
       William Thomas Albert Clark (27)
       Leslie George Clark (24)
       Arthur George Downey (25)
       Maurice James Downey (23)
       Albert Ernest Smith (44)
       Walter Igglesden (37)
       Charles Southerden (22)

## Rye Harbour lifeboats

| ON | Op.No. | Name | In service | Class |
| Pre-323 | – | Unnamed | 1862–1867 | 30-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| Pre-482 | – | Storm Sprite | 1867–1883 | 33-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 228 | – | Frances Harris | 1883–1899 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 331 | – | Willie Rogers | 1899–1900 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 453 | – | John William Dudley | 1900–1916 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) |
| 661 | – | Mary Stanford | 1916–1928 | 38-foot Liverpool (P&S) |
    Station Closed, 1928

## Inshore lifeboats

| Op.No. | Name | In service | Class |
| D-105 | Unnamed | 1966–1975 | D-class (RFD PB16) |
| D-241 | Unnamed | 1976–1986 | D-class (Zodiac III) |
| C-517 | Unnamed | 1986–1996 | C-class (Zodiac Grand Raid IV) |
| B-548 | Aldershot | 1996 | B-class (Atlantic 21) |
| B-727 | Commander & Mrs Rodney Wells | 1996–2010 | B-class (Atlantic 75) |
| B-842 | Hello Herbie | 2010–2015 | B-class (Atlantic 85) |
| B-875 | Alexander | 2015–2017 | B-class (Atlantic 85) |
| B-900 | Hello Herbie II | 2017– | B-class (Atlantic 85) |

### Launch and recovery tractors

| Op. No. | Reg. No. | Type | In service |
| TW03 | RLJ 367R | Talus MB-764 County | 1991–1992 |
| TA19 | Q243 YNT | County Tractor | 1991–1996 |
| TW28H | N671 UAW | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk3) | 1996–2006 |
| TW19Hc | J120 VNT | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2006–2010 |
| TW62Hb | DX59 LHZ | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) | 2010–2013 |
| TW46Hb | V938 EAW | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) | 2013–2014 |
| TW54Hc | DU02 WEJ | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2014–2020 |
| TW56Hc | DY52 EFR | Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) | 2020– |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* 1 2 3 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat or vehicle carried on the hull.