A proud history of saving lives
By Redcar RNLI published 8 November, 2011 No CommentsThe people of Redcar have a long and proud history of saving folk in distress from the raging North Sea. The first lifeboat to be stationed in the town arrived on October 7th, 1802. Built by Henry Greathead, of South Shields, the boat was christened Zetland. The arrival of the lifeboat was a source of great festivity and rejoicing. A contemporary account records that “in the evening the fishermen were regaled with ale to drink success to the boat and the health of the builder”. They also declared “in the most voluntary and heartfelt manner” that the lifeboat would never want for hands to man her.
The lifeboat was manned by the fishermen of Redcar and, in her time, the Zetland saved over 500 lives. But not all rescue attempts were successful. On Christmas Day, 1836, a crewman was washed from the Zetland and drowned during a vain attempt to save the crew of the Danish brig, Caroline. The man, William Guy, was a Tees pilot, and it is said that he left a service in chapel to take his place in the lifeboat.
In the 1930’s manpower gave way to engines. The first motor lifeboat was the Louisa Poulden and this boat arrived in March 1931. Powered by a single 35 horsepower petrol engine, the Louisa Poulden served Redcar through the ravages of the Second World War.
A massive increase in leisure boating during the 1950s and ‘60s, caused a corresponding increase in the number of calls made on lifeboats. It was obvious that a new type of lifeboat was needed, smaller and faster than the conventional type, yet still able to operate in relatively rough conditions. The answer was found in an inflatable boat of about l6ft., powered by an outboard motor, and capable of speeds up to 28 knots. In 1963 Redcar received one of the first of these inshore rescue boats for evaluation trails. The trials were a huge success, and the latest generation of this boat is to be found stationed all around the coast.
In 1986 the town received one of the latest classes of inshore lifeboat, the Atlantic 21, to work alongside the stations smaller D class lifeboat. Much faster than any other type of boat in the RNLI fleet, the Atlantic 21 proved an instant success and has since been developed into the even bigger and faster Atlantic 75 class lifeboat Leicester Challenge 2 which serves the station today.
Today the town’s first lifeboat, the Zetland, can be found just a few hundred yards from the modern lifeboat. Both face the sea, preserving the town’s proud place in the history of saving lives on the coast of Redcar.
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