Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station is located 3.5 mi south of the town and royal burgh of Kirkcudbright, at the mouth of the River Dee, in the county of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.

The station has operated a B-class Inshore lifeboat, Sheila Stenhouse (B-814)	since 2009.

History
A branch of the RNLI was created in Kirkcudbright in 1861, and a lifeboat was placed on service there in 1862, Helen Lees, a 30-foot Self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails. A boathouse was constructed at Creekhead, at the top of St Cuthbert street, at a cost of £144.



The first recorded service was on the 13 November 1862, to the brig Ellen of Liverpool, driven ashore at the mouth of the River Dee. 3 lives and the vessel were saved.

On 30 November 1868, the lifeboat was launched to the aid of the schooner William Henry of Belfast, on passage to Maryport, wrecked on St Mary's Isle. Five lives were saved.

In 1892, the lifeboat was relocated to Cutlers Pool. A new boathouse and slipway were constructed in 1893, at a cost of £1,200. The location meant that the crew were transported to the edge of Lake Wood, and then would have to travel 1 mi through woodland on foot, This was still a lot quicker to launch, then rowing out of the town harbour.



On 29 February 1928, Kirkcudbright lifeboat crew set off to Maryport, to exchange their old P&S lifeboat George Gordon Moir (ON 606) for a new prototype motor-powered boat. After 11 hours struggle in heavy seas and strong headwinds, they returned home. Setting off in better conditions the following day, they rowed for 16 hours to reach Maryport. After an overnight at Maryport, they collected the Priscilla MacBean (ON 655), a legacy of Edward MacBean of Helensburgh and Glasgow. The return trip took just 3 hours.

A bottle washed up at West Preston Shore, Kirkbean on 14 October 1934, containing a message dated 7 October 1934. "We are stranded in Barlocco Caves. Rescue us quick or too late". The lifeboat was launched, but nobody was there.

The Mary Pullman (ON 981), a 37-foot Oakley-class lifeboat, would be the last 'All-weather' lifeboat to serve at Kirkcudbright, arriving on service on 2 May 1965. In the next 24 years as Kirkcudbright lifeboat, she would be launched 89 times, and save 34 lives. By 1985, she was in need of repair, and sent for further repairs in 1987. It was decided to trial one of the fast B-class Inshore lifeboats at Kirkcudbright in July 1988, the first boat being (B-523), the former Littlehampton lifeboat Blue Peter 1, (the name being retained at Littlehampton).

Mary Pullman was formally withdrawn from service in 1989, and a permanent B-class Peter and Grace Ewing (B-585) was placed at the station in 1991. The station currently operates the B-class lifeboat Sheila Stenhouse (B-814).

In June 2023, William John Collins, former lifeboat mechanic, now Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Operations Manager, received the British Empire Medal, awarded in the 2023 Kings New Years Honours. Robert Ross, Senior Helm, Training Coordinator and member of Kirkcudbright lifeboat since 1983, received the 40-year long service award.

Station honours
The following are awards made at Kirkcudbright


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * Andrew Lusk, farmer - 1865


 * Bronze Medal, awarded by the Royal Humane Society
 * George Parkhill - 1908


 * The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
 * George Davidson, Coxswain/Mechanic - 1976


 * Stephen Unsworth, Acting Coxswain/Mechanic - 1985


 * Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
 * George C. Davidson, DSM BEM - 1977


 * British Empire Medal
 * William John Collins - 2023KNH

Inshore lifeboats

 * Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.