Morecambe History
1966 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a D class lifeboat. An ILB boathouse was built on the Promenade.
1973 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Keith Willacy and the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Crew Member Andrew Jarvis for rescuing two men stranded on the Clark Wharf Sandbank.
1981 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Helmsman Keith Willacy for rescuing the two crew from an inflatable dinghy, which was in difficulties near the sea wall and groynes beneath Morecambe Golf Course on 6 June.
1983 A Silver Medal was awarded to Helmsman Keith Willacy for rescuing a windsurfer in difficulties during a gale and in rough seas north of Heysham Harbour on 17 October 1982. The man had climbed 40ft up a concrete pillar but was persuaded to jump into the sea where he was quickly lifted into the lifeboat. Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Crew Members Anthony Terence Jolley and Robert Alan Coyle.
1985 Framed Letters of Thanks were presented to Helmsman Mark Baxter and Crew Member David Willacy when a man was rescued from his sailboard in a south westerly gale and steep confused seas.
1987 The boathouse was extended to provide a crew and training room.
1990 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Keith Willacy and Crew Members Steven J Waite and Michael J Mayfield for rescuing the sole occupant of the yacht Phoenix.
1998 A new D class boathouse and launchway were completed in October.
2000 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Harold Roberts for rescuing the two crew and saving the yacht Lady Friendship on 12 June. This was a joint service with the Fleetwood all weather lifeboat.
2002 The first RNLI rescue hovercraft H-002 became operational at Morecambe on 23 December.
2003 The hovercraft was officially named The Hurley Flyer; she was donated by Kay Hurley MBE.
2004 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Lifeboat Operations Manager John Beaty and a collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to the 16 crew and shore helpers following a service on the night of 5 February when one man’s life was saved and a total of 11 bodies were recovered by the D class inshore lifeboat and hovercraft. A large group of Chinese cockle pickers had been cut off by the tide and subsequently drowned by the notorious Morecambe Bay tides.
Station honours
At Morecambe lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 2
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 7
Bronze Medal 1
Silver Medal 1
