St Bees RNLI celebrates 60 years of inshore lifeboats

Introduced in 1963, the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat continued to be a valuable asset to its fleet, as new figures show they’ve saved over 30,000 lives across 60 years.

St Bee’s RNLI is one of several local RNLI bases that are commemorating the event.

They’ve had their current Atlantic 85 B-831 Joy Morris MBE boat saving lives at sea since April 7, 2009.

B-831 lifeboat (Image: RNLI)

St Bees RNLU have had four inshore lifeboats since the station first received its D class in 1970.

St Bees RNLI D-180 (Image: RNLI)

The station’s boats have gone on to launch 484 times, save 71 lives, and aid 298 people, according to the RNLI.

In 1985 the station’s D class was replaced with C Class with two engines and space for an additional crew member.

St Bees RNLI C-515 (Image: RNLI)

To accommodate the larger boat the station’s boathouse was extended in the same year.

In 1993, a bronze medal was awarded to senior helmsman Ian McDowell in recognition of his ‘outstanding leadership, skill and courage’ when the lifeboat rescued the two crew from the fishing vessel Coeur De Lion on July 31, 1993.

The fishing vessel was stranded on an isolated outcrop of rocks at the north end of Fleswick Bay in a Force 6 Strong Breeze and breaking seas.

Shortly after, the survivors were taken off the fishing vessel.

On April 28, 1995, the C-class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced with the Atlantic 75 B-719 Percy Henry Patmore MBE.

St Bees Atlantic 75 B555 (Image: RNLI)

This later class of lifeboat was almost 2m longer and could operate at speeds of 29 knots using its twin 50hp engines.

In 2004, the chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary presented his commendation to Ian McDowell, Paul McDowell, Dave Barker and Dick Beddows of St Bees Lifeboat Station in recognition of their actions on August 8, recovering two young brothers in difficulty from the sea using the Atlantic 75.

The latest lifeboat, constructed of carbon fibre, powered by two 115hp engines and crewed by four can be operated at speeds of 35 knots for three hours.

Dick Beddows, volunteer lifeboat operations manager at St Bees RNLI, said: “These fast and highly manoeuvrable lifesaving craft answered the need for a quicker and more agile response to rescues in areas of water that were more challenging to the larger and slower all-weather lifeboats.

“The Atlantic 85 we operate is a part of our community and suits the demands of the rescues.

“With its unique features and capabilities this has made a huge difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of our 24/7 search and rescue service.”