Staithes and Runswick History

Runswick lifeboat station
1866-1978

Staithes lifeboat station
1875-1922
1928-1938

Staithes and Runswick lifeboat station
1978-to date

1866 A lifeboat station was established at Runswick.

1875 Staithes lifeboat station was established and a boathouse was built at Cowbar.

1888 During a rescue to a fishing coble Staithes lifeboat Crew Member John Crookes was thrown onto some rocks and killed when the lifeboat capsized. Fourteen other men were able to get to shore safely.

1891 A new boathouse was built at Runswick.

1893 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain George Tose for long and gallant service to the Runswick lifeboat.

1910 A new boathouse and slipway were built at Runswick.

1922 The station at Staithes closed temporarily as there was a shortage of crew.

1924 Bronze Medals were awarded to Runswick’s Coxswain Tose and Second Coxswain Robert Patton for the rescue of the Captain from the steamer Princess Clementine.

1928 The station at Staithes re-opened when the fishing industry was revived.

1934 A Gold Medal was posthumously awarded to Coxswain Robert Patton who was killed when he was crushed while rescuing a man from the steamer Disperser. The name of the lifeboat was changed from The Always Ready to Robert Patton – The Always Ready.

1938 The all weather lifeboat was withdrawn and the station at Staithes was closed.
 
1957 Runswick’s Head Launcher, George Hanson, died after saving a boy and attempting to save a man in difficulties in Staithes Harbour.

1978 The all weather lifeboat at Runswick was withdrawn and the station closed.
An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established at Staithes with a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat, Lord Brotherton. The station was named Staithes and Runswick.

1996  The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Sean Baxter when the lifeboat rescued two people cut off by the tide. A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Crew Members Iain Baxter, Jason Ebison, Martin Hopkinson, David Porritt, Lee Porritt, David Springett and Michael Verrill.

The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman David Porritt when the lifeboat rescued two anglers who were trapped at the end of the western breakwater and in danger of being swept away by the heavy breaking seas. A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Crew Member Martin Hopkinson after he guided the two anglers back along the breakwater where they were taken off by lifeboat.

2000 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Stephen Iredale for the rescue of an elderly man from a trimaran, at night and in breaking seas. The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge award for the most meritorious service by a B class lifeboat in 2000 was awarded for this service.

2003 Improved boathouse facilities were completed and a new Atlantic 75, Pride of Leicester, was placed on service.

Station honours

At Staithes and Runswick lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 2
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 3
Silver Medal 1
Gold Medal 1