200 years of Lifeboats at Spurn Point

Humber lifeboat station has a long and proud history of saving lives at sea and holds a unique position as the RNLI’s only full-time, residential lifeboat station. The first lifeboat was established at remote Spurn Point in 1810 and since then, hundreds of lives have been saved by Humber lifeboat crews.

The station is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2010 and to help mark the occasion, the crew are offering supporters the chance to ‘buy’ one of the years from their remarkable history.

The most noteworthy years will be sold at special auctions throughout this year. These include several years between 1916 and 1943 when one of Humber’s most renowned coxswains, Robert Cross, won the RNLI Gold Medal twice, the Silver Medal three times, the Bronze Medal twice, the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum and the George Medal.

Also reserved for auction will be 1979, when Superintendent Coxswain Brian Bevan became the only RNLI lifeboatman to be presented with Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for gallantry at the same awards ceremony. The medals were awarded for three separate rescues during the ferocious winter of 1978-79.

The years not being auctioned are on sale for a minimum of £25 each. Each year can only be bought by one person, who will receive a certificate with details of the events of that year signed by current Superintendent Coxswain Dave Steenvoorden. The years can be dedicated to someone, bought in memory of a loved one, or simply purchased by yourself to show your support for this quite unique Lifeboat station. To purchase a year click on the links on the right hand side of this page.

For more information, or to discuss other ways of supporting Humber RNLI during this anniversary year, contact Humber RNLI Superintendent Coxswain Dave Steenvoorden at humber@rnli.org.uk or Senior Fundraising Manager Val Nixon at Valerie­_Nixon@rnli.org.uk