Aldeburgh's station history

The lifeboat based at Landguard Fort had originally been paid for by subscription, after the loss of a ship and its crew near to the fort in 1820.

This lifeboat was designed by a local boat designer Richard Hall Gower whose designs were innovative for his time. The lifeboat was able to be transported  across a beach with ease, rigged with two small spritsails and made buoyant using cork and copper air-cases. It was launched at Jabez Bayley’s Yard at Stoke Bridge in Ipswich in April 1821 watched by the townspeople and named the ‘Ipswich Lifeboat’. It was then put through several testing trials on the river. Such as being dropped from height into the water, part filled with water and then rowed down the river and back.

Silver Medal awarded to Joseph Foster for the rescue by a coastguard boat of six people from the ship Diligence on 12 October 1824.

The Suffolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Seamen was also created. At that time there were already 3 lifeboats in Suffolk, based at Lowestoft, Bawdsey and Landguard Fort. The establishment of the Suffolk Association for Saving the Lives of Shipwrecked Seamen brought direction to the way the lifeboats were used in Suffolk.

Silver Medal awarded to Henry Hutchinson, chief officer of the coastguard for the rescue of four of the crew of the brig Traveller on 8 November 1825.

The lifeboat at Landguard was refitted and repaired for £35 at the direction of the Association, the equivalent of about £2,000 in 2017. Despite the refit the lifeboat remained quite ineffective and in 1825 it was dismantled. This was probably due to the lifeboat only being crewed by Soldiers stationed at Landguard Fort who were poor sailors. As opposed to the crew of the lifeboat based at Harwich across the estuary.

A lifeboat is placed at Sizewell by the Suffolk Association in 1826. The boat was crewed from Aldeburgh.

Silver Medal awarded to Mr William Smith who dashed into the surf and rescued one of the crew of the brig Reaper on 16 January 1828.

Silver Medal awarded to Mr Simon Fisher, master of the smack Alert, for the rescue of the crew of 11 of the brig Peace on 4 March 1840.

The boat is moved from Sizewell to Aldeburgh when the RNLI takes control of the Suffolk Association boats.

In 1853 after the Suffolk Association passed Control of its Suffolk lifeboat stations to the RNLI, a new station was established at Thorpeness. Where a second ‘Ipswich’ lifeboat was to be based.

On 3 November 1855, during severe weather, seven vessels are wrecked or driven ashore. During an attempt to wade out with a line to the Swedish brig Vesta, Thomas Cable is killed. Despite this severe setback, the other rescuers continue with their attempts and eventually save seven of the Vesta’s crew of nine. The RNLI makes a contribution to the local funds for Thomas Cable’s widow and five children.

Lifeboat capsizes on service on 21 December in very high surf, with the loss of three of her crew of 15. They are T Cable, P F Green and J Pearce. Committee of Management grants £25 to each of the widows.

A second ‘Ipswich’ lifeboat was christened and launched on the 29th of May 1862 in Ipswich. The town providing funds for its construction.

Site of lifeboat house is required for building purposes. New lifeboat house erected at a cost of £226.

Lifeboat house moved owing to the encroachment of the sea.

A binocular glass is given to W J Osborne, for serving as honorary secretary for 25 years.

Silver Medals awarded to Coxswain J Cable and Second Coxswain W Mann in recognition of the rescue of 17 people from the Norwegian barque Winnifred on 11 November 1891, in a south-south-west gale and very heavy seas.

Gas service provided to lifeboat house. Norwegian government awards medals to the crew for their services to the barque Winnifred, when the crew of 17 were rescued on 11 November 1891.

After assisting to haul up the lifeboat after a service on 11 November, Ernest Butcher dies from bursting a blood vessel. Committee of Management votes £100 to his widow.

Silver Medal (Second Service Clasp) awarded to Coxswain James Cable following three service calls on 20 November in violent gales, including the Russian barque Venscapen and the Hull pilot cutter Fox.

Silver Medal awarded to Bowman Charles Edward Ward, on his resignation (due to absence; his fishing took him away from station) in consideration of his gallant service for many years. Mr Ward served as assistant coxswain, and coxswain (1881-1888) and saved more than 100 lives.

Imperial Government of Russia awards Silver Cup to Coxswain James Cable and a sum of money to the crew, in recognition of their services in rescuing the crew of the Venscapen on 20 November 1893.

On 7 December, during a full east-south-easterly gale and extremely violent seas, the lifeboat goes to the assistance of a vessel aground on Shipwash Sands. Due to illness, Bowman Ward is acting coxswain and, when crossing the inner shoal, the lifeboat is struck broadside on by two huge waves and capsized, trapping six of her crew underneath. As soon as the lifeboat comes ashore, efforts are made to get out the trapped men. A hole is chopped in the upturned hull but to no avail. Bowman Ward is one of the first men washed ashore and repeatedly goes back into the heavy sea to help his comrades. A seventh man dies three months later (24 March 1900) from his injuries. Those lost are John Butcher, Thomas Morris, Herbert Downing, Charles Crisp, Walter Ward, James Miller Ward and Alan Easter.

Silver Second Service Clasp awarded to Bowman Charles Edward Ward for the rescue of two his comrades on 7 December 1899.

Silver Third Service Clasp awarded to Coxswain James Cable in recognition of his gallant services to the vessels Hylton and Antares on 15 February and 4 October 1900 respectively.

German Emperor awarded silver watches to the coxswain, second coxswain and bowman, and a gift of money to the crew, for rescuing the crew of the barque Antares on 4 October 1900.

Number two station opened.

Acetylene beach light supplied.

Centenary Vellum awarded.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain George Chatten for the rescue of four people from the barges Grecian and Astrild on 23 November 1938 in a south-east gale and very heavy seas. It was a fine service very skilfully carried out.

The Abdy Beauclerk carries out the first war service of the war on 10 September to the steamer Magdapur. During the 1939-1945 war, the Aldeburgh lifeboats are launched on service 58 times and rescue 107 lives.

The Abdy Beauclerk and Lucy Lavers are among the 19 lifeboats that take part in the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk in 1940.

Many generations of the Cable family have served in the lifeboats. In 1954, Patrick Cable, aged 16, goes out on service.

On 2 November, the No 1 lifeboat is being prepared for service after an exercise, when a link of the securing chain parts and the lifeboat launches herself. John Sharman, the 16-year-old son of the motor mechanic, succeeds in hanging onto the lifeboat, swings himself aboard, and steers her seawards. For the courage, enterprise and determination he shows, the Committee of Management sends a letter of appreciation and a monetary reward.

Miss Basham presents an Institution flag to the Aldeburgh church to hang over the memorial to the crew who were lost in the disaster in 1899.

Number two station is closed.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Reuben Wood for rescuing the crew of three from the fishing boat Ocean Pride, which capsized on the inner shoal 100 yards from the beach in gale force south-south-westerly winds and a rough sea on 10 April 1972. Motor Mechanic Nigel Saint is accorded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for giving first aid and artificial respiration to one of the fishing boat’s crew.

A 150th Anniversary Vellum is awarded to station.

A D class lifeboat is sent to station in July.

Bronze Medal is awarded to Helmsman John Marjoram in recognition of the courage, seamanship and determination displayed by him when the inshore lifeboat rescued a young boy from the yacht Spreety on 17 August 1977. Coxswain Reuben Wood is awarded a framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chair of the Institution.

Tractor house and workshop completed.

The new station lifeboat ON1193 Freddie Cooper is placed on service December 1993. The lifeboat is funded by the legacy of Mrs Winifred May Cooper.

New boathouse constructed on the site of the previous house. It includes separate buildings for housing the station’s new Mersey class lifeboat and launching tractor. Linked by a single-storey section providing crew facilities.

HRH The Duke of Kent KG attends Aldeburgh on 31 May to name the station’s new Mersey class lifeboat Freddie Cooper.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Ian Firman, after three people were rescued from the yacht Red House Lugger. The yacht was having difficulties 30 miles east of Aldeburgh in rough seas, an estimated 6m swell and storm force winds on 29 August 1996.

New D class lifeboat D520 placed on service on 30 June.

Bronze Medal Second Service Clasp awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Ian Firman for the rescue of the crew of four from the yacht Rosebank in appalling weather conditions on 28 May 2000.

An extension to the boathouse is completed in September at a cost of £240,739.

Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chair of the Institution, Admiral Sir Jock Slater, awarded to Coxswain Lee Firman and crewman David Cook for their actions in saving two crew and the yacht SVEA on the night of 17 April 2004. The service was carried out in very poor weather conditions and it took several attempts to get a crewman aboard and establish a tow.

The new station D class lifeboat D673 Christine is placed on service 24 April 2007.

The new D class lifeboat D808 Susan Scott is placed on service 3 May.

The training B class lifeboat B-899 Howard Bell is delivered to Aldeburgh on 11 March. Training starts for the volunteer crew over the weekend of 16 and 17 March.

The B class lifeboat B-899 is placed on service on 14 October.

On Sunday 27 October, the Freddie Cooper is given a grand send-off  by the crew and the town of Aldeburgh. ALB 12-34 is escorted north by the Susan Scott D class and Howard Bell B class. Lowestoft’s Eric’s Legend 13-40 and Southwold’s B-868 escort Freddie into Lowestoft harbour.

Ralph B-949 was delivered to the station on 4th February 2025 and replacing the Howard Bell.