Kirkwall Lifeboat Station
| Kirkwall Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Kirkwall Lifeboat Station | |
  Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland | |
| General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | The Lifeboat House |
| Address | West Pier |
| Town or city | Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1LE |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 58°59′07.3″N 2°57′37.2″W / 58.985361°N 2.960333°W |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website | |
| Kirkwall RNLI Lifeboat Station | |
Kirkwall Lifeboat Station is located in the harbour town of Kirkwall, the largest town of Mainland, Orkney, in the isles of Orkney, Scotland.
A lifeboat was first operated out of Kirkwall in 1968, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). A station was established there in 1972.[1]
The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, 17-13 Margaret Foster (ON 1231), on station since 1998.[2]
History
[edit]In the early 1960s, the RNLI ordered two 70-foot Clyde-class lifeboats, to evaluate the benefits of operating a larger offshore vessels, which could remain at sea for many days without refuelling, and were able to cover some of the more exposed waters. The first, 70-001 Charles H Barrett
(Civil Service No.35) (ON 987), had a two-year trial period, and was then placed at Clovelly in 1968. The second, 70-002, Grace Paterson Ritchie (ON 988), was first based out of Ullapool in 1966. In 1968, the boat was relocated to cover the Orkney Isles during the week, and berthed at Kirkwall Harbour at weekends.[1][2][3]
In worsening condition on 8 November 1971, the Danish fishing vessel Clupea broke her moorings and ran aground near Kirkwall Pier. Three other Danish vessels were also torn from their moorings. The Grace Paterson Ritchie managed to tow the Rosslau and Anne Stranne clear of Kirkwall pier, then set anchor, to veer down and tow the Clupea, and then the Kami. With the highest praise for his seamanship and skill from all concerned, Staff Coxswain Robert Hunter Dennison was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, with the crew receiving Medal Service certificates. It was estimated that this service had saved not just 20 men, but also boats worth over £100,000, and a suitable donation was made to the Institution from the insurance companies.[4][5]
A lifeboat station was eventually opened at Kirkwall on 30 May 1972. In 1974, Grace Paterson Ritchie was sent for maintenance, and for one year, the station operated a Solent-class lifeboat, 48-016 Douglas Currie (ON 1021). Grace Paterson Ritchie would return in 1975, and served through until 1988, when the RNLI finally decided that this type of boat didn't fit with usual RNLI operations, and the two boats, and a later built third boat, 70-003 City of Bristol (ON 1030), were withdrawn and sold out of service.[1][2]
In a violent storm of 22 January 1984, the fishing vessel Benachie broke her moorings, and was washed ashore on Rousay island. Grace Paterson Ritchie arrived on scene, dropped anchor, and veering down, managed to get a line aboard. The vessel and three crew were towed to safety. Coxswain Capt. William Swanson Sinclair received the RNLI Bronze Medal for this service.[4]
Kirkwall would receive 52-39 Mickie Salvesen (ON 1135) in 1988, a new 52-foot Arun-class lifeboat. Just six weeks later, the Arun lifeboat headed out at 07:18 on the 13 September 1988, into 20-foot seas and a force 6 storm, to the aid of the 500-ton bulk cement carrier BC Mercurius, which had suffered engine failure approximately one mile north of Noup Head, Westray. Four crewmen were recovered by helicopter, leaving just 2 aboard. Setting up a tow line several times, the lifeboat managed to pull the vessel away from the shore, until the vessel could set anchor, and await a tug. The lifeboat arrived home at 08:55 the following day. For what would be his last service, Coxswain Capt. William Swanson Sinclair would receive a second-service clasp to his previously won bronze medal.[6]
In 1989, dredging works were undertaken to accommodate the Arun-class lifeboat at the harbour berth, and new station buildings were constructed in 1990, to include a workshop and improved crew facilities.[1]
Funded by Miss M. E. Foster, a new Severn-class lifeboat 17-13 Margaret Foster (ON 1231) was placed on service at Kirkwall in 1998. In one of the first services of the new lifeboat, and in force 9 conditions, local GP Dr. Peter Fay was taken on board, to a suspected heart-attack victim on the rig-support vessel Stream Truck, 17 miles (27 km) north of the station. Having been seasick all the way, Fay immediately set about his duties on arrival at the vessel. Dr. Peter Fay received 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum - Doctor's award'.[7]
The relief Severn-class lifeboat 17-33 Beth Sell (ON 1262), on station in September 2020, was called to the creel boat Kingfisher (DH 110), which had fouled her propellers, 26 miles (42 km) south east of Orkney. Arriving at the vessel at 16:35, in near gale-force conditions, the boat was taken in tow, arriving back at Kirkwall 7-hours later.[8]
In the 2023 King's New Years Honours list, Dupre Strutt, Kirkwall lifeboat mechanic and former Area Lifesaving Manager, was awarded the Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE), having served at Kirkwall since 1983.[9]
Station honours
[edit]The following are awards made at Kirkwall.[1][4]
- Robert Hunter Dennison, Staff Coxswain - 1972
- Capt. William Swanson Sinclair, Coxswain - 1984
- Capt. William Swanson Sinclair, Coxswain - 1989 (Second-Service clasp)
- Medal Service Certificate
- Each of the crew of Grace Paterson Ritchie - 1972
- James Mitchell, Second Coxswain - 1989
- Dupre Strutt, Motor Mechanic - 1989
- Robert Mainland, Assistant Mechanic - 1989
- Geoffrey Gardens, crew member - 1989
- Robert Hall, crew member - 1989
- Smith Foubister, crew member - 1989
- The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
- Stewart Ryrie, Second Coxswain - 2010
- Dr. Peter Fay, GP - 1999 (Doctor's award)
- A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
- Capt. Sinclair, Honorary Secretary - 1973
- F Johnston, Coxswain - 1973
- D Grieve, crew member - 1973
- J Grey, crew member - 1973
- D Pearce, crew member - 1973
- M Drever, crew member - 1973
- B Hall, crew member - 1973
- Geoff Gardens, Coxswain - 2011
- A Letter of Thanks signed by the Director of the Institution
- Robert Hall - 1999
- Dupre Alexander Strutt, Motor Mechanic and former Area Lifesaving Manager - 2023NYH[9]
Kirkwall lifeboats
[edit]| ON[a] | Op. No.[b] | Name | In service[2] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 988 | 70-002 | Grace Paterson Ritchie | 1968−1974 | Clyde | Sold to National Lifesaving Association of Iceland in 1989, and renamed Henry A. Hálfdánsson.[10] |
| 1021 | 48-016 | Douglas Currie | 1974−1975 | Solent | |
| 988 | 70-002 | Grace Paterson Ritchie | 1975−1988 | Clyde | |
| 1135 | 52-39 | Mickie Salvesen | 1988−1998 | Arun | |
| 1231 | 17-13 | Margaret Foster | 1998− | Severn |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Kirkwall's station history". Kirkwall Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- ^ "70-foot Clyde-class" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XLIII (448): 175. Summer 1974. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
- ^ "The Danish Fishing Vessels Clupea, Rosslau, Anne Stranne and Kami". The Lifeboat. XLII (440): 345. July 1972. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Tow passed to coaster 400 yards from rock-bound lee shore" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 51 (507): 86–87. Spring 1989. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Special Vellunn for Doctor's services in severe conditions" (PDF). The Lifeboat (550): 11. Winter 1999. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ McBride, Oliver (5 September 2020). "Kirkwall RNLI lifeboat involved in seven hour tow of stricken creel boat". The Fishing Daily. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". London Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Carrying on the good work" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 51 (507): 79. Spring 1989. Retrieved 12 September 2024.