Anstruther History
1832 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coastguard K McCulloch for saving three people from the wrecked sloop Vine.
1834 A Gold Medal was awarded to Coastguard Lieut Henry E Randall and a Silver Medal to Coastguard Kenneth McCulloch for rescuing seven crew from the schooner Wanderer that was wrecked at Elie in a violent storm on 2 February 1833.
Silver Medals were awarded to Coastguards A Murray and J Mason for rescuing five men from the schooner John in difficulties in bad weather on 3 December 1833.
1865 Anstruther lifeboat station was established and a boathouse was built at the head of the old East Pier. The first lifeboat was a 32-foot lifeboat with 10 oars. Six coxswains were appointed, each of them to manage the lifeboat and station for three months in turn. There were four separate crews of 12–13 men.
1897 A handbell was used to summon the crew instead of a mortar or rocket signal.
1904 A new boathouse and slipway were built. The system of having six coxswains was removed when a new lifeboat arrived at the station.
1933 The station’s first motor lifeboat arrived at the station.
1965 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester named the station’s new Oakley class lifeboat The Doctors.
The boathouse was adapted for the new Oakley class lifeboat, carriage and tractor.
A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1991 The boathouse and slipway were extended for the new Mersey class lifeboat.
The Oakley class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by a carriage-launched Mersey class lifeboat.
1995 A two-storey extension, providing improved crew facilities, was added to the boathouse.
2003 A relief D class lifeboat, D-552 Global Marine, was placed on service for 12 months evaluation on 21 May.
2004 An inshore lifeboat station was fully established alongside the all weather lifeboat and a D class lifeboat was placed on service.
2007 Former coxswain John Murray is awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Station honours
At Anstruther lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Silver Medal 4
Gold Medal 1
