Whitstable Lifeboat Station is located at Whitstable, a town overlooking the eastern end of The Swale, a tidal channel of the Thames estuary (that separates the Isle of Sheppey), sitting on the north coast of Kent.OS Explorer Map 150 – Canterbury & the Isle of Thanet.Published: Ordnance Survey – Southampton. .
A lifeboat station was first established at Whitstable by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1963.
The station currently operates a Inshore lifeboat, Lewisco (B-877), on station since 2014.
History In 1962, the number of rescues or attempted rescues by All-weather lifeboats in the summer months was 98, with the number of lives rescued being 133. In 1963, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI began trials of small fast Inshore lifeboats, placed at various locations around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. This quickly proved to be very successful. In 1963, there were 226 rescues or attempted rescues in the summer months, as a result of which 225 lives were saved.
One of the first places chosen for a new Inshore lifeboats was Whitstable, in Kent. A new station was established in July 1963, with the arrival of a Inshore lifeboat, which was kept at East Quay. At the time, Inshore lifeboats were placed on station just for the summer season, and many boats were moved around to different stations. Whitstable are recorded as having six different Inshore lifeboats between 1963 and 1974.
In 1974, the smaller was withdrawn, and replaced with the larger twin-engined RIB, the Whitstable Branch (B-516).
Boathouse accommodation has been improved over the years. A single storey extension was added to the side of the boathouse in 1989, to improve crew facilities. In 2000, a completely new station was constructed, to provide new crew facilities, and house the larger Oxford Town & Gown (B-764).
A number of awards have been made to Whitstable crew members. "The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum" was accorded for service in 1977, 1981 and 1986. It was again accorded in 2010, along with the "Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award", which was awarded for the most meritorious rescue by an Inshore lifeboat crew in 2009.
On 28 May 2000, the Whitstable lifeboat was launched into a force 8–9 gale and rough seas, to the aid of the fishing dory Angelina. Three crew were saved from the sinking boat. Helm David Parry was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.
The "Dan Davies Competition" for first aid and seamanship skills is held annually, in memory of Whitstable general practitioner Dan Davies, who served as medical officer to the lifeboat station.
In 2023, Whitstable Lifeboat Station celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Station honours The following are awards made at Whitstable.
RNLI Bronze Medal David Parry, Helm – 2000
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum David Victor Foreman, Helm – 1977
Michael A. Judge, Helm – 1981
Michael Gambrill, Helm – 1986
Jonathon Carter – 2010
The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award 2009 Jonathon Carter – 2010
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Michael Judge, crew member – 2001QBH
David Andrew Lamberton, Former Helm, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2003NYH
British Empire Medal John Richard Hill, Volunteer Shop Manager – 2025KBH
Whitstable lifeboats D-class Op. No. Name Class Comments D-2 1963–1965 D-24 1965 D-28 1965 D-45 1965–1968 D-49 1968–1969 D-45 1969–1970 1970–1974
B-class Op. No. Name Class Comments B-516 Whitstable Branch 1974–1984 B-560 British Diver 1984–2000 2000–2014 B-877 Lewisco 2014–
Launch and recovery tractors Op. No. Reg. No. Type Comments T54 MJT 722P Case LA 1975–1977 TW04 TEL 705R Talus MB-764 County 1977–1994 TW32 L161 LAW Talus MB-764 County 1994–2000 TW49Hb W652 RNT 2000–2008 TW59Hc Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2008–2014 TW23Hc K805 CUX Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2014–
Gallery
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
References