Hoylake History

1803 Hoylake lifeboat station was established by the Liverpool Docks Committee. The first lifeboat was built by Henry Greathead.

1810 On 22 December Hoylake lifeboat launched in a westerly storm to the vessel Traveller. Whilst proceeding to the casualty the lifeboat was capsized by the huge seas and eight crew drowned. Seven crew were buried at St. Bridget's Church on the 25 and 26 December. The eighth man's burial does not appear to have been recorded.

1848 A second lifeboat (No.2) lifeboat was stationed on Hilbre Island.

1851 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain G Davies for service over a long period.

1863 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain John Bird by the Dutch Government for outstanding gallantry after rescuing the sole survivor of the Ditch vessel Gezina Reina.

1894 The RNLI took over the No.1 station.

1897 The ex-Rhyl tubular lifeboat was placed on temporary relief duty at Hoylake.

1899 A new boathouse and launchway were built.

1902 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Thomas Dodd for rescuing nine crew from the barque Matador.

1906 Crew Member John I Roberts tragically died when he was washed out of the lifeboat on 15 November.

1920 A tractor was sent to the station to improve launching.

1930 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1943 Bronze Medals were awarded to Coxswain Herbert Jones, Boatman Ben Armitage and Coastguard William Widdup who rescued two people from a dinghy.

1953 A 150th Anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1971 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Harold Triggs for rescuing two men from the tug Diane that sunk off West Hoyle Bank.

1980 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Thomas Henry Harry Jones and the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Second Coxswain John McDermott and Crew Member David Dodd for saving three exhausted crew from the catamaran Truganini in September 1979.

1986 A tractor house was built providing housing for the launching vehicles and improved crew facilities.

1991 His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, named Hoylake’s new Mersey class lifeboat Lady of Hilbre.

1999 Coxswain Geoff Ormrod and his crew received a Letter of Appreciation from the Chief of Operations for going to the aid of a man swept out to sea off New Brighton promenade in a storm on Christmas Day morning.

2003 The station was awarded a celebration Vellum to commemorate the completion of 200 years service.

Station honours

At Hoylake lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 5
Silver Medal 2