Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station

Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Station was created in 1931, with the amalgamation of two Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) branches, Lytham (1851–1931) and St Annes (1881–1925).

The primary location is at South Promenade in St Annes, on the Fylde coast of Lancashire, from where it has operated the Shannon-class lifeboat 13-24 Barbara Anne (ON 1331) since 2018.

There is also a secondary station, the former 1960s station located 3.5 miles away at East Beach, Lytham, from where it has operated a D-class Inshore lifeboat, Moam (D-800) since 2016.

History
For earlier information about St Annes, or Lytham lifeboat stations, please see;
 * St Annes Lifeboat Station 1881–1925
 * Lytham Lifeboat Station 1851–1931

On the 12 March 1931, the Lytham branch of the RNLI branches, which was still operational, joined with the St Annes branch, their station having closed in 1925, and thus was created 'Lytham St Annes' Lifeboat Station.

Less than one month later, on 7 April 1931, Lytham St Annes lifeboat station received a new 35-foot 6in self-righting motor lifeboat, constructed by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,281. She had a 35 hp engine, delivering a speed of 7 knots. She was named the Johnson Webster, Henry Butterworth and William and Catherine Rashleigh lifeboat, all named on a plaque inside the boat, but known as J.H.W. (ON 738). The boat was to heavy to be housed in the boathouse, so was moored off Lytham Pier, the boathouse being used to store equipment, along with a small boarding boat. J.H.W. would serve for eight years, being transferred to Padstow in 1939.

The Dunleary (ON 658) arrived in Lytham St Annes on 29 January 1939. A much older motor-lifeboat, built in 1919, she had served at Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire), but was larger, faster and much better equipped. In March 1939, the crew was joined by Motor Mechanic George 'Ginger' Harrison. He would go on to serve as mechanic for 40 years, the longest serving RNLI Mechanic.

There had been some discussion about closing the Lytham St Annes station in 1938, but this was never actioned. This was probably quite fortunate, with the outbreak of World War II. The war brought extra duties. Rifle practice was required, as was carrying a member of the Naval forces on the boat. Permission to launch was under Admiralty control. In November 1939, the Dunleary provided exceptional service to H.M.Trawler Gaul, saving the boat and 15 crew. In 1942, six lives, and H.M. Patrol Vessel Seilestier, were saved. Five lifeboat crewmen were awarded the 1939–1945 Star for their wartime service.

The Sarah Townsend Porritt (ON 886) arrived on 19 April 1951, a 46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat, with twin diesel engines, giving 8.36 knots. She cost £24,427, and was provided from the legacy of Kate Isabel Porritt of Rossendale, Lancashire. Sarah would serve 27 years, and be credited with two medal rescues. On 3 July 1955, she was called to the yacht Penboch, aground on Angry Brow two miles north of Southport. After a difficult service, with the lifeboat being battered and grounding several times, five people were rescued. Coxswain Joe Parkinson would receive the bronze medal. In a service on 21 July 1962 to the yacht Lone Seeker, stranded on Salter's Bank, four people and the yacht were saved, but only after George Harrison got burned on the hand when the line rocket jammed. Coxswain Harold Parkinson was awarded the bronze medal, with George Harrison receiving 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum'.



A mussel cleaning plant had been constructed on the waterfront at Lytham in 1935, but it was no longer needed by 1957. On hearing of the intended demolition, RNLI Mechanic George Harrison was reported as saying "What a pity to pull down the place. It'd make a nice life-boat station." On 26 June 1960, Lytham St Annes got a new base to house their boarding boat and equipment, moving from the 1863 boathouse next to Lytham Windmill. It turned out to be the ideal home for the D-class Inshore lifeboat (D-120), that arrived in 1967.

In 1997, a number of Tyne-class lifeboats were removed from station because of engine problems, and replaced with a variety of relief lifeboats. Lytham St Annes boat 47-037 Sarah Emily Harrop (ON 1155) was sent away for repairs, only never to return. In her place, Mersey-class lifeboat 12-21 Margaret Jean (ON 1178) arrived on station, and for now would still be moored afloat off the Lytham Central Beach Station.



There had long been concerns about the river silt, and even as early as 1995, relief Mersey lifeboat 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189) had been sent on trial, operating from North Beach car park, north of St Annes. Now, a second Mersey was sent on trials to Lytham St Annes in 1999, 12-001 Peggy and Alex Caird (ON 1124), this time operating out of Fairhaven Road car park. All went very well, and at the crew's request, the station would change to have a carriage launched lifeboat.

Mersey-class lifeboat 12-33 Fisherman's Friend replaced relief boat Margaret Jean on 27 March 1999, and on 28 March 1999, she was the last boat to depart the Lytham mooring, ending its regular use after 68 years. She was recovered to the Fairhaven Road car park site in St Annes, where a temporary station was constructed in July 1999. Lytham St Annes received their permanent boat on 16 December 1999, the 1995 trial boat Her Majesty the Queen. She would serve Lytham St Annes for the next 18 years.

Construction of a new station started in 2001, completing in 2003, The site, down the slipway at the end of Eastbank Road in St Annes, was exactly where the first St Annes lifeboat had been launched 120 years previously.

In 2018, Lytham St Annes station received a new {{Lbc|Shannon}} lifeboat, 13-24 Barbara Anne (ON 1331). Costing £2.2million, she is capable of 25 knots, nearly 50% faster than the previous lifeboat.

Station honours
The following are awards made at Lytham St Annes


 * 1939–1945 Star
 * Edward Rimmer
 * Hugh Rimmer
 * Joseph Harold Parkinson
 * George Harrison
 * J. R. Parkinson


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * John James Parkinson, Coxswain - 1940


 * RNLI Bronze Medal
 * George Harrison, Motor Mechanic - 1940


 * Joseph Harold Parkinson, Coxswain - 1955


 * Harold Parkinson, Coxswain - 1962


 * Arthur Wignall, Coxswain - 1981
 * Brian Pearson, Assistant Mechanic - 1981


 * Medal Service Certificate
 * Tony West, Motor Mechanic - 1981
 * Harry Bamber, crew member - 1981
 * David Topping, crew member - 1981
 * Robert Kennedy, crew member - 1981
 * Russell Wignall, crew member - 1981
 * Gary Miller, crew member - 1981
 * Daniel Chester, crew member - 1981
 * Paul Francis, crew member - 1981


 * The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
 * George Harrison, Mechanic - 1956
 * Keith Morris, Reserve Mechanic - 1956


 * G Harrison, Mechanic - 1962


 * Harold Parkinson, Coxswain - 1969
 * Kenneth Smith - 1969


 * Robert Kennedy, crew member - 1981


 * A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
 * Gary Miller, Helmsman - 1994
 * Russell Wignall, crew member - 1994
 * Martin Jaggs, crew member - 1994


 * A special framed certificate for First Aid Service
 * Gary Bird, Second Mechanic - 2005


 * Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)
 * Tony West, Second Coxswain / Mechanic - 1996NYH


 * Martin Jaggs, Coxswain/Mechanic - 2016QBH


 * British Empire Medal
 * George Harrison, Mechanic - 1972NYH


 * Arthur Robert Wignall - 1987NYH


 * David Forshaw, Deputy Launching Authority, Press Officer - 2022NYH