Ramsey History

O1829 A boathouse was built facing the beach at the north end of Shore Road.

1840s The station was no longer in existence.

1845 A Silver Medal was awarded to John Covin for rescuing six people from the schooner Hazelwood.

1868 The RNLI established a lifeboat station.

1869 A boathouse was built on the Esplanade near the entrance to the River Sulby.

1883 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Robert Fell on his retirement.

1887 The lifeboat was out on service twice on 1 November ‘in a sea and a storm the like of which had not visited the coast within the memory of man’. The boat broached and filled with water but fortunately there was no loss of life.

1889 A new boathouse was built with a crew reading room and house for the coxswain.

1890 A new slipway was built.

1890 Silver Medals were awarded to Honorary Secretary Edward C Kerr and Coxswain Robert Garrett for rescuing 18 people from the dredger Walter Bibby (7 November) and the schooner Margaret (11 November).

1893 In attempting to take off the crew of a vessel, six men were washed out of the lifeboat but all got safely back on board.

1920 It was difficult to get enough horses to launch the lifeboat so arrangements were made for a lorry to draw the lifeboat onto the road.

1929 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1931 The station’s first motor lifeboat was placed on service.

1938 A new tractor house was built.

1942 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain John Comish for rescuing 13 crew from the trawler Strathairlie that ran ashore at Skellig Bay on 20 November 1941. He took the lifeboat alongside the trawler 13 times to rescue the men.

1948 During a service the ex-coxswain was washed out of the lifeboat and was hauled aboard by Second Coxswain Ball. Second Coxswain Ball received a Framed Letter of Thanks.

1969 The boathouse was adapted for an Oakley class lifeboat.

1976 A 150th Anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1986 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain James Kinnin for rescuing 14 people and saving the yachts Airy Fairy, Billy Whizz and Broadaxe, which were in difficulties in North Ramsey Bay.

1991 A new boathouse was completed in January for the new Mersey class lifeboat, also providing a souvenir sales outlet and improved crew facilities.

 The Mersey class lifeboat, ON-1171 Ann and James Ritchie, was placed on service.

1993 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain James Kinnin for rescuing the sole occupant and the yacht Lugo, which was close to the seawall at Ramsey in a heavy breaking surf and gale force winds on 30 August 1992.

Station honours

At Ramsey lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 1
Silver Medal 4