Chronological history of Tynemouth Lifeboat

1789 The first purpose-built lifeboat, the Original, was stationed at South Shields by the Tyne Lifeboat Society.

1797 The lifeboat Northumberland was stationed at North Shields. Over 200 years later the lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland was named in memory of this lifeboat.

1862 The RNLI established a lifeboat station at Prior’s Haven.

1864 James Grant and Edmund Robson were drowned during a rescue attempt to two vessels.

1865 A second lifeboat station (No. 2) was established at the Black Middens.

1905 The RNLI’s first motor lifeboat J. McConnell Hussey was sent to the station for trials.

1913 Silver Medals were awarded to Coxswain Robert Smith and Captain H E Burton for rescuing the crew of the wrecked steamship Dunelm.

1914 Gold Medals, the RNLI’s highest accolade, were awarded to Captain H E Burton and Coxswain Robert Smith, and Silver Medals to Second Coxswain James Brownlee and Lifeboat Inspector Lt Basil Hall, for rescuing the last 50 survivors from the hospital ship Rohilla that had gone aground. The lifeboat took nine hours to reach the wreck near Whitby.

1916 Silver Medals were awarded to Coxswain Robert Smith and Second Coxswain James Brownlee for rescuing 16 people from the steamship Muristan.

1926 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Michael Campbell for rescuing a man from a capsized boat.

1941 Bronze Medals were awarded to Honorary Secretary Edward Selby Davidson and Coxswain George Lisle for rescuing 22 crew from the Oslo Fjord.

The lifeboat station was destroyed by enemy action in April during the Second World War but re-opened six months later.

1948 A new boathouse was completed on the same site and named by HRH The Duchess of Kent.

1962 The Duchess of Northumberland unveiled a stained glass window in the Seamen's Chapel of Christ Church, North Shields, to commemorate a Centenary Vellum being awarded to the station.

1965 An inshore lifeboat station (ILB) was established.

1974 Bronze Medals were awarded to ILB Crew Members Trevor Fryer and Frederick Arkley for rescuing four people from the tug Northsider.

1980 The new Arun class lifeboat George and Olive Turner was named by the Duchess of Northumberland.

1982 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to ILB Helmsman Trevor Fryer for rescuing nine people from the motor boat Blue Fin.

1986 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain John Hogg for rescuing three crew from the fishing vessel La Morlaye.

1997 A berth for the all weather lifeboat, and a new boathouse, providing improved crew facilities and housing for the D class, were completed.

1998 A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Martin Kenny, and a collective Framed Letter of Thanks to Mechanic Kevin Mole, Assistant Mechanic Geoffrey Cowan and Crew Members Edwin Chapple and Michael Nugent, for the service to the yacht Signature.

1999 The Arun class lifeboat was replaced by the Severn class lifeboat.

2000 The Severn class lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland was named by HRH The Duke of Kent.

2003 Framed Letters of Thanks were presented to Helmsman Kevin Mole and James Scott for saving two youths cut off by the tide.

Station honours

At Tynemouth lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 4
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Bronze Medal 5
Silver Medal 15
Gold Medal 2