St Catherine History

1969  The RNLI established an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station with a D class lifeboat and the ILB was housed in an old wartime bunker in the cliff.

1984 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced with a C class lifeboat on 14 April. A new ILB boathouse was built on the harbour quay.

1989 Trials were carried out in October using a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat and a DoDo (Drive on-–Drive off) launching trolley.

1990 The C class lifeboat was withdrawn and an Atlantic 21 lifeboat was sent to the station on 15 October.

1991 An old farm building was modified to provide crew facilities and accommodation for the Atlantic 21 lifeboat and launching tractor.

1994 In darkness on the night of 1 January the ILB crew rescued a surfer who was clinging to his board in strong winds and driving rain off Plemont. The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Senior Helmsman Nigel Sean Sweeny and Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Crew Members Paul Richardson and John Heyes.  

 HRH The Duchess of Kent presented these awards during a visit to the island on 31 October.

1995 The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award was awarded to Senior Helmsman Nigel Sweeny and Crew Members Paul Richardson and John Heyes for the above service on 1 January 1994.

2000 A Framed Letter of Thanks to Helmsman Paul Richardson and Crew Members Andrew Eeles and Lloyd Banks for saving the two crew and the yacht Maeve on 2 March. The service took place in severe weather conditions and the yacht was towed to Carteret in France.

2001 The Atlantic 21 was replaced by the Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-772 The Eric Rowse.

2006 Internal alterations to the boathouse completed.

2010 The existing Atalantic 75 was replaced with a new Atlantic 85, B-841 which was named Eric W Wilson 

Station honours

At St Catherine lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1