07/05/2024
MAY is LIFEBOATS MONTH at National Historic Ships UK!
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the RNLI we’ve designated May 2024 as Lifeboats Month.
We'll be highlighting a different historic lifeboat each day on social media, from some of the earliest pre-RNLI pulling and sailing lifeboats to those with the highest number of medals and lives saved, as well as class prototypes. We'll also highlight some current lifeboat conservation projects and some which are part of our UK-wide Shipshape Network of maritime heritage projects.
Later in the month, we’ll be launching our own Lifeboats Report, which summarises an in-depth review of the 150+ historic lifeboats on the National Registers. The report is the culmination of more than two years work by our team and a dedicated Working Group of lifeboats experts.
As a bit of fun, we've also put together a lifeboats-themed word search, suitable for both adults and children. School groups, museums, educational workshops, and other groups are welcome to download and print off copies for their visitors. Send us your completed word search by the end of May to be entered into our Prize Draw.
Download the word search from our website:
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/page/nhs/rnli-200-word-search
Day 6/31: 44-001
Class: Waveney (Prototype)
1964: Built by US Coastguard Yard, Maryland
1964-1966: Shipped to Littlehampton, service trials at Appledore
1966-1996: Stationed at Solent, Barry Dock, Clovelly, Dun Laoghaire, Great Yarmouth & Gorleston, Harwich, Sheerness, Dover, Eyemouth, Whitby, Ramsgate, St Helier, Yarmouth IoW, Fowey, Alderney, & Arklow
Launched 269 times Saved 114 lives
Medals awarded: 1 silver medal for Acting Coxswain James Dougal
1996-present: On display as part of the Historic Lifeboat Collection - Chatham at Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent
Read more:
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3799/44-001