Whitby Lifeboat Station

Whitby's New Lifeboat Lois Ivan

Sunday 11 June 2023 was a momentous day for Whitby Lifeboat station as it welcomed its new all weather lifeboat Lois Ivan. The boat entered Whitby harbour entrance at 13.49, the time which corresponds with the operational numbers on the side of the lifeboat. The numbers are special as they are the location for the names of 10,000 people whose loved ones subscribed to the RNLI Launch a Memory campaign.

The Lifeboat entered the harbour in a flotilla, with the present all weather lifeboat George and Mary Webb leading the procession, followed by Whitby's D class inshore lifeboat and lifeboats from neighboring stations Scarborough, Staithes and the independent station Runswick Rescue Boat and the former Upgang lifeboat William Riley. Members of Whitby Yacht Club and a number of local pleasure boats brought up the rear of the procession.

Lois Ivan From The Air

The new lifeboat Lois Ivan berthed on the pontoon after the long journey from Poole.

A New Lifeboat

Whitby's new all-weather Lifeboat

Check out the two extra gallery pages of the boat's arrival using this link

The boat was out daily getting its volunteer crew up to speed, and has now taken over the mantle of becoming Whitby's permanent all weather lifeboat. Right from the outset people wanted to know when they could go and see the lifeboat to view where the names they had chosen to be on the boat's decals. Being a large website I was initially inundated with emails wanting to know. However I was aware that the Coxswain had issued instructions that nobody should make the journey to try and see the boat as it was going to be out each day. Furthermore as the lifeboat will be moored on a pontoon with no public access permitted I advised them that they will not get an opportunity to see the names in situ. The Press Officer informed me that later in the year they were going to arrange an event for donors and presumably members of the public to see the lifeboat out of the water, sadly as expected nothing has yet taken place and I am not aware of any plans to hold such an event. There are temporary signs outside the lifeboat station where those who subscribed to the Launch A Memory scheme can see the position of their chosen name.

What was initially my home page has been split it into two pages, the second page contains a better introduction of the lifeboat station and can be found using the 'welcome' navigation element.

The official dedication of the new lifeboat station and the naming of the new inshore lifeboat OEM Stone III occurred on Friday the 7th September 2007. The day began as a wonderfully warm sunny day which added to the occasion. HRH the Duchess of Kent officially opened the station heralding a new era for Whitby Lifeboat Station. The following link leads to a succession of of comprehensive gallery pages, I am proud to be able to share. To complement the pages related to the official opening of the new station I have seven gallery pages that present the work involved in the dismantling and removal of the old station built in 1909 (seen right). The pages begin with the dismantling of the old station and work through to the completion of the new lifeboat station, simply use the link in the old station photograph to access the gallery pages.

The former Upgang and Whitby lifeboat William Riley had its first major fundraising venture in 2008 following its complete restoration recreating the journey undertaken by the Tynemouth motor lifeboat "Henry Vernon" in 1914 to the wreck of the Rohilla, details of the fundraising event itself can be found on my William Riley fundraising page.

Please feel free to use the search facility below to search for something throughout the entire lifeboat website.

If you have any questions, queries or suggestions attributed to my Whitby Lifeboat Station website please do not hesitate to contact me using the link below, feedback is often welcome.

** Sitemap **