# Lerwick Lifeboat Station

Lerwick Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Lerwick, the main town and port of the Shetland Islands.
A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1930.
Since 1997, the station has operated the Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), only the fourth lifeboat to have served at Lerwick.

## History

In the journal The Lifeboat of March 1930, it was announced by the RNLI that they intended to place a lifeboat at Lerwick, following improvements in communication systems by the Board of Trade. As if to prove the need for a lifeboat, only days later, on 28 March 1930, the fishing trawler Ben Doran was wrecked off Shetland, with the loss of all 9 crew. The nearest lifeboat at the time was at Stromness, which made a journey of 55 hours and 360 miles (580 km), but to no avail.
Lerwick lifeboat station became operational on 17 July 1930, on the arrival of a 51-foot Barnett-class lifeboat built by J. Samuel White, which had departed Cowes some 8 days earlier.
The two first services of the lifeboat would come on two consecutive days. On 21 February 1931, the steamer Everline of Riga was 100 miles west of Shetland, and drifting towards the islands, after losing her propeller. Two Lerwick trawlers set out to tow her to safety. The lifeboat crew were awaiting further news of the steamer, when they were called to the ketch Nolsoy of Tórshavn, towing her into harbour at 6:05pm. On hearing that the towline to the Everline had parted, the lifeboat, taking extra fuel, set out again at 7:15pm, spending overnight at Symbister due to the conditions, and then heading out to the Everline at 6:00am on the 22 February, arriving at 09:30am. In worsening conditions, at 12:30pm, the Master decided to abandon ship, and in difficult conditions, all 26 men were rescued by the lifeboat.
At a ceremony on 25 June 1932, attended by over 3000 people, the boat was named Lady Jane and Martha Ryland by the Duchess of Montrose, after a bequest by the late William Ryland of Sheffield.
On 16 October 1958, the Soviet trawler Urbe, with a crew of 25, sank near Holm of Skaw. The lifeboat Claude Cecil Staniforth (ON 943), which had been on station at Lerwick for just over 2 months, was launched on a 50-mile journey in storm conditions. Putting into Baltasound, they collected local pilot Andrew Mouat, who had offered his services. After much difficulty, including use of a local 10-foot boat, and getting one propeller fouled, the lifeboat rescued the only three survivors. Coxswain John Sales was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, Mr Mouat being awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.
A 52-foot Arun-class lifeboat was placed at Lerwick in 1978, 52-10 Soldian (ON 1057). In 19 years service, this boat was launched 245 times, and rescue 260 lives. The boat would see some of the most dramatic rescue services, and RNLI Gallantry Medals were awarded on no fewer than five occasions, a silver and 4 bronze. Coxswain Hewitt Clark was awarded a bronze medal and 2 bars (3 services), and then a silver medal in 1995. Clark would be further awarded with the RNLI Gold Medal, for the service to the Green Lily on 19 November 1997, in the new Lerwick lifeboat 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon (ON 1221), which had been on service for just 4 months, since 19 July 1997. In 2002, Soldian was sold to the Icelandic SAR lifeboat service, and served for a further 19 years as Ásgrímur St. Björnsson (2541).

### The Green Lily

In storm force 11 conditions, which had battered the Shetland Islands for days, cancelling all ferry services, the 3,624 ton refrigerated cargo vessel Green Lily, with 15 crew, departed Lerwick in the early hours on 19 November 1997, loaded with frozen fish, and bound for West Africa.
15 miles (24 km) miles out, she developed engine trouble. Two tugs were dispatched, but when the towline broke, the Lerwick lifeboat Michael and Jane Vernon was called, along with Rescue Helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie from Sumburgh in Shetland.
The lifeboat arrived to find the vessel just over 1 mile (1.6 km) off shore, with the helicopter unable to assist due to the rolling of the ship. With great skill and expertise, the lifeboat was brought alongside many times, but the crew didn't seem to appreciate the danger they were in. Often, nobody was ready to leave. Eventually, 5 crewmen were taken off, not assisted by them bring luggage.
Various efforts with tow lines failed, but a tug managed to grapple the anchor chain, and pulled the boat around. The lifeboat then couldn't get close, but the helicopter could now help. Winchman William (Bill) Deacon was lowered to the boat, and he set about sending up the remaining 10 crewmen, two at a time.
As the last two men left the boat, leaving him alone, he was washed off the ship by a large wave. Lowering the winch cable a final time, it got snagged on the wreck. The Pilot had to make the decision to cut the cable, rather than risk the helicopter and all aboard, knowing that they then had no method to try to retrieve the Winchman. With no way of getting close, the lifeboat headed to port, dropped off their five survivors, and headed straight back out to try to find Mr Deacon, but with no success. William Deacon's body was later recovered. He was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his bravery that day. All the lifeboat crew were awarded RNLI Medals.
At the fatal accident inquiry at Lerwick Sheriff Court in August 1999, Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie concluded that "unnecessary and cumulative delays by the captain and 14 crew of the Bahamian-registered ship were largely to blame for Mr Deacon's death".
In 2005, a new shore facility was opened at the Old Tolbooth.
Today, the Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy, sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Breitling UK, is awarded to winch paramedics and/or winch operators from contracted (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) helicopter bases operating in the UK and Irish SAR regions, for meritorious service during SAR helicopter operations.

## Station honours

The following are awards made at Lerwick
* George Medal
       William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman - 2000 (post.)
* RNLI Gold Medal
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1998
* The Maud Smith Award 1997 (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1998
* RNLI Silver Medal
       Miss Grace Tate - 1856
       Miss Ellen Petrie - 1856
       James Jamieson - 1896
       John Sales, Coxswain - 1958
       George Leith, Coxswain - 1973
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1995
* James Michael Bower Endowment Fund, Awarded to recipients of either the Gold or Silver Medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
       John Sales, Coxswain - 1959
* RNLI Bronze Medal
       John Sales, Coxswain - 1957
       Andrew Duncan Mouat, Pilot of Baltasound - 1958
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1983
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1989 (Second-Service Clasp)
       George Lamont Williamson, skipper/owner of the salmon work boat Challenge - 1991
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1993 (Third-Service Clasp)
       William John Clark, Joint Second Coxswain - 1994
       Richie Simpson, Second Coxswain - 1998
       Peter Thomson, Emergency Mechanic - 1998
       Brian Laurenson, Emergency Mechanic - 1998
       Ian Leask, crew member - 1998
       Michael Grant, crew member - 1998
* The Maud Smith Award 1993 (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
       William John Clark, Joint Second Coxswain - 1994
* A special RNLI Vellum
       William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman - 1998 (post.)
* Collective Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to the crew of the coastguard helicopter Rescue Lima Charlie
       Norman Leask, Captain - 1998
       David Gribben, Co-Pilot - 1998
       Paul Mansell, Winch operator - 1998
       William (Bill) Deacon, Winchman - 1998 (post.)
* The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
       Lerwick Lifeboat Crew - 1973
       George Leith, Coxswain - 1974
       Andrew Leask, Assistant Mechanic - 1983
       Ian Newlands, Emergency Mechanic - 1983
       Robert Wiseman, crew member - 1989
       Iain Tulloch, crew member - 1989
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1990
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1993
       William J Clark, Joint Second Coxswain - 1994
       Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1994
       Ian Fraser, Emergency Mechanic - 1994
       Robert Wiseman, crew member - 1994
       Richard Simpson, crew member - 1994
       Theo Nicolson, crew member - 1994
       Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1995
       Ian Fraser, crew member - 1995
       Iain Tulloch, crew member - 1995
       Robert Wiseman, crew member - 1995
       Richard Simpson, crew member - 1995
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1995
* A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       John Sales BEM, Coxswain - 1969
       Each of the seven members of the Lerwick lifeboat crew - 1969
       James Christie - 1991
       Theodore Fullerton - 1991
       John William Ward - 1991
       (all members of the Challenge crew).
       Peter Thomson, Joint Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic - 1995
       Ian Fraser, crew member - 1995
       Iain Tulloch, crew member - 1995
       Richard Simpson, crew member - 1995
       J Sinclair, crew member - 1995
* A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       Lerwick Lifeboat Coxswain and Crew - 1954
       Hewitt Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1992
       Ian Fraser, Emergency Mechanic - 1992
       Iain Tulloch, crew member - 1992
       Robert Wiseman, crew member - 1992
       Richard Simpson, crew member - 1992
       Malcolm Craigie, crew member - 1992
* Silver enamelled RAF crest, presented by No 18 Group RAF
       Lerwick lifeboat station - 1948 (It was fitted in lifeboat ON 731).
* Service Award Plaque, awarded by The Swedish Lifeboat Society
       Lerwick Lifeboat Station - 1957
* British Empire Medal
       John Wood Sales, Coxswain - 1968QBH
* Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)
       Peter Hewitt Peterson Clark, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1999QBH

## Lerwick lifeboats
### All-weather lifeboats

| ON | Op.No. | Name | In service | Class |
| 731 | − | Lady Jane and Martha Ryland | 1930−1958 | 51ft Barnett |
| 943 | − | Claude Cecil Staniforth | 1958−1978 | 52ft Barnett |
| 1057 | 52-10 | Soldian | 1978−1997 | 52ft Arun |
| 1221 | 17-10 | Michael and Jane Vernon | 1997− | Severn |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.