Looe Lifeboat Station

Looe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Looe, Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

History
To the east of Looe is the expanse of Whitsand Bay. While attempting to run for the safety of Plymouth Sound many sailing ships became embayed, unable to sail around Rame Head. Wrecks were frequent and Looe men made many rescues before the lifeboat station was established. In 1824, John Miller received the RNLI Silver Medal, and three others, monetary awards for rescuing seven men from Harmonie, wrecked in Whitsand Bay. Ten years later, in 1834, monetary awards and a Silver Medal was awarded for saving twelve crew from the Konigberg. A third Silver Medal was awarded in November 1838 to William Jennings who swam to the brig Belissima, carrying a line, and saving thirteen men. Rescuing the crew of the Fletan resulted in a fourth silver medal in February 1851.

A lifeboat house was erected in 1866 and the first lifeboat, Oxfordshire was paraded through the streets on 28 December 1866 and named by Mrs W H Carew.

The lifeboat went out to help the French vessel Gypsy on 7 December 1901. 19 people were saved (14 brought ashore in the lifeboat and the others towed in the ship's boat) along with 3 kittens. The French government awarded the coxswain, Edward Toms, a gold medal and the other members of the lifeboat crew received silver medals.

The RNLI withdrew services from Looe in 1930 on the grounds that the motor lifeboats at Fowey and Plymouth could cover the area.

From 1992, the RNLI stationed a lifeboat at Looe for the summer season and three years later the Spirit of the ROAC was housed in a temporary lifeboat house, provided by the East Looe Town Trust. A new permanent lifeboat station was built on the quay and opened in 2003

Pulling and sailing lifeboats
These lifeboats were equipped with oars or with sails when conditions allowed. 'ON' is the Official Number used in RNLI records from 1884. Station closed 1930.

Inshore lifeboats


'Op.No.' is the Operational Number carried on the side of the boat.