Whitby's station history

In December the new lifeboat was launched for the first time and rescued the crew of the sloop Edinburgh laden with coal that ran aground outside the harbour entrance

A second lifeboat (No.2) was provided for the town and kept on the east side of the harbour.

Gold Medal awarded to Lieutenant J Lingard RN in connection with a shoreboat case, when seven lives were rescued from the brig Esther, which was wrecked in an easterly gale near Robin Hood's Bay on 28 April 1929.

On 19 January 1830 east side lifeboat launched to rescue 10 men from the brig Smales which had missed the harbour entrance and 4 men from another boat that had gone to their aid. Then on the 23rd January the east side lifeboat was again launched and rescued 10 men from 2 smacks. Subsequently a gold medal was awarded to Lieutenant Richard Jones, a Coastguard Officer, for his involvement in both rescues.

Gold Boat (2) awarded to Lieutenant Richard Jones, Coastguard Officer for dashing into the surf and swimming to the stranded sloop Northfield. He brought a rope ashore by means of which the Master and his crew of three were saved.

The brig Thales was dismasted and driven aground off Sandsend in a heavy north-easterly gale on 1 July. The west side lifeboat was dragged from Whitby to Sandsend and launched opposite the wreck saving the crew of 10 men and the pilots.

Silver Medal awarded to Lieutenant G S Brittain RN for launching the west side lifeboat to rescue 8 men from the brig Ivanhoe  which had run aground in a north-westerly gale and then on 21 December saving 9 of the crew of 11 from the brig Middlesbrough of Stockton driven ashore half a mile north of Whitby by a heavy easterly gale on 21 December.

Gold Medal awarded to Lieutenant G S Brittain for launching the west side lifeboat and, with a ten-man crew, rescued the crew of 9 from the rigging of the brig Jupiter of Whitby that ran aground between Whitby and Upgang in a violent northerly gale on 29 October 1838.

On 6 October in very rough seas the east side lifeboat with a crew of 13 capsized on Whitby Bar whilst going out to two yawls. The west side lifeboat was launched to effect the rescue of the 5 men trapped under the east side lifeboat but only one was saved. Those lost were M Pattinson, R Storr, R Walker and J Wilson.

Silver Medal awarded to John Storr, fisherman of Whitby, in consideration of his frequent services to save life from shipwrecks.

Silver Medals awarded to Henry Freeman and Thomas Robinson for the part they played when the west side lifeboat launched five times to vessels in distress in a fierce north-easterly gale and very heavy seas on 9 February 1861. On the fifth occasion just off Battery Parade two waves met underneath the lifeboat and capsized her, drowning 12 of the crew of 13. These were C Collins, J Dixon, I Dobson, R Hartland, M Leadley, R Leadley, G Martin, J Philpot, J Storr, W Storr, W Tyreman and W Walker. Henry Freeman was the sole survivor on what had been his first day in the crew; saved partly because he was wearing a new design of cork lifebelt worn over the shoulders which had been sent to Whitby several years before as a specimen of the belts used by the RNLI. Rescuers made valiant efforts to save the crewmen; one of those most prominent was Thomas Robinson who managed to climb on the bottom of the washed ashore lifeboat to cut it open with a hatchet but the 2 men trapped underneath were already dead. A monument to the crew who lost their lives stands in the entrance of St Mary's Parish Church. Three more ship were wrecked off Whitby that day and the east side lifeboat was launched to the rescue of one of them. On the 19th February 1861 the independent Whitby Lifeboat Association decided to join the RNLI which  provided a new 32 ft. self-righting replacement lifeboat costing £195 named  Lucy that arrived on the 12 April 1861. Lucy was on station at Whitby for 9 years and saved 50 lives. The RNLI put Whitby lifeboat on a stronger financial footing and provided new operational procedures.

Silver Medal awarded to William T Quigley, Chief Officer of Coastguard, for climbing down a precipitous cliff on 23 February; a dark stormy night with ten other men and, using hawsers, took off the three man crew for the schooner William Barker that had been driven ashore and wrecked near the East Pier, Whitby.

At a cost of £870, The Robert Whitworth came into service.

It was decided that the existing arrangement, by which one man acted as coxswain of the two Whitby boats should cease and separate coxswains be appointed.

Provided at a cost of £248, the 32ft. self-righting Robert Whitworth (named in honour of the Hon Treasurer of the fund-raising branch in Manchester) replaced Lucy and undertook her 1st service on 26 July rescuing 4 people. 

The schooner Agenoria which was transporting coal from Hartlepool to Whitby ran aground just outside Whitby harbour on 10 January 1877. The Whitby lifeboat Harriet Forteath launched at 1.30am in heavy seas to try and effect a rescue. She capsized and 10 of her 11 crew were thrown into the water. One swam ashore, six re-boarded the lifeboat, but three drowned including  Coxswain Samuel Lacey.

Silver Second-Service Clasp awarded to Coxswain Henry Freeman for launching the number one lifeboat Robert Whitworth on 28 October four times to vessels in distress. At about 1200 with an east-north-easterly hurricane blowing and extremely high seas the lifeboat went to assist the schooner Reaper that was drifting rapidly towards rocks and took off her four-man crew. At 13:30 the lifeboat assisted the fishing yawl Good Intent and saved her crew of eight. The number two lifeboat Harriott Forteath launched at 1515 to the Rye schooner Elizabeth Austin also stranded on the beach and immediately took off her crew of five. At 1630 the Great Yarmouth schooner John Snell was seen heading for the beach with tremendous seas continually sweeping over her. After she struck, the number one lifeboat launched for the third time and saved her five-man crew. Everyone of these rescues was carried out under great difficulty with Henry Freeman as coxswain.

On 19 January a fierce storm drove the brig Visitor onto dangerous rocks at Robin Hoods Bay. The seas were too rough to launch from Whitby and row round the headland to the casualty so the lifeboat Robert Whitworth was dragged the 6 miles (9.7 km) over a 500 ft hill and through moorland by 200 men and 18 horses clearing deep snow drifts up to 7 ft (2.1 Metres) high on the way. The journey took two hours. All the crew were rescued after a 2 mile 90-minute battle with the elements to reach the wreck. 

The 34 ft self-righter the first Robert and Mary Ellis, replacing the Robert Whitworth, began service until 1909 saving 43 lives.

Coxswain Henry Freeman died. Henry was the Whitby RNLI Coxswain for more than 20 years and helped to save over 300 lives in that time. His legacy lives on as one of Whitby’s most renowned coxswains and crew member.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain Thomas Langlands for putting off in a coble and rescuing three men from the coble William and Tom that had foundered on Whitby Bar in a strong north-north-easterly breeze on 14 May. Coxswain Langlands, who was in his own coble, at once went to help and picked up one man, the other two had seized a line thrown from the pier and were driven by the sea close to it, but even though his coble had lost two of her oars Coxswain Langlands went in and picked them up.

The SS Isle of Iona struck Whitby Rock just north of the Harbour entrance on the 7 Dec 1906.

The RNLB John Fielden was launched and took off the 17 crew of the vessel after which the vessel became a total loss

The Isle of Iona was steam driven coal cargo ship (collier) built by T & W Smith, North Shields. Owned by the Isles Steam shipping Co. Ltd, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Owned by Dixon & Robson Company of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and was commanded Captain was J. H. Cussons.

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The second Robert and Mary Ellis a 35 ft self-righter arrived in December and over 25 years launched twenty-five times saving eleven lives and was the last rowing lifeboat on service in Whitby. This lifeboat and the new Upgang lifeboat the William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington were both named at the same ceremony in the 23rd August 1909.

The Second Robert and Mary Ellis (ON588) began service, costing £877.

The SS Hermiston, of Glasgow, whilst bound from Antwerp to Shields in ballast became stranded on at North Cheek at Robin Hood's Bay on the 19 May 1910.

There was a dense fog at the time, with a light breeze and moderate sea. A messenger reported the casualty at 7.20am and the Robin Hoods Bay Lifeboat RNLB Mary Ann Lockwood was promptly launched. Two women passengers were taken off and landed, the Lifeboat then returning to the steamer. The Lifeboat remained alongside until about 3.30pm whilst unsuccessful efforts were made to refloat the steamer.

As there was then no immediate danger the Robin Hoods Bay Lifeboat returned to her station. At 9pm the Lifeboat was again requested by the Hermiston Captain. Whilst enoute to the Hermiston, the Lifeboat found one of the ship's boats with four hands, which had been adrift all the previous night owing to the fog. The men were picked up and returned to the Hermiston. Soon after 4am. it was seen that the services of the Lifeboat would not be required; she therefore made for Robin Hood's Bay, arriving at 5am.

The vessel was eventually refloated on the 8 June assisted by 4 tugs the event being watched by large crowds salvage from the cliffs top.

In a terrific east-south-easterly gale at around 0400 hours on 30 October 1914 in war time conditions the hospital ship Rohilla on her way to Dunkirk to evacuate wounded First World War soldiers, with 224 men including officers and crew, medical and support personnel and five female nurses on board, ran onto a dangerous reef at Saltwick Nab and almost immediately broke into three pieces. Six lifeboats over three days from five lifeboat stations - Scarborough, Teesmouth, Tynemouth, Upgang and Whitby (1 and 2 lifeboats) - attempted to rescue those on board. 35 were rescued by Whitby’s No. 2 lifeboat John Fielden in two trips and a further 50 by the motor lifeboat Henry Vernon from Tynemouth. Others from the Rohilla made their own way ashore after jumping into the raging sea assisted by Whitby townsfolk, prominent amongst them was Mr George Peart, who rushed into the surf at great personal risk to drag them out but 83 from the Rohilla lost their lives.

RNLI Gold Medals were awarded to Coxswain Thomas Langlands Coxswain of Whitby lifeboat, Coxswain Robert Smith and Captain Burton of Tynemouth lifeboat and Silver Medals to Whitby’s Second Coxswain Richard Eglon and George Peart.

In fine weather during the evening of 30 October 1915, while on passage from Stockton to Calais with a cargo of timber, the SS Skane drove onto Whitby rock. Damage to the hull caused the engine room to flood. The next day a tug managed to refloat her off the rocks but the vessel had to beached because she was in a sinking condition. Later that day the wind freshened and the lifeboat, RNLB Robert and Mary Ellis was launched to take off her eighteen crew and two female passengers, leaving eight salvage crew on board attempting to save the vessel.

In early December 1915, the RNLB Robert and Mary Ellis was called out again to rescue the salvage crew as the vessel was caught in a northerly storm. The Skane became a total loss although much was salvaged from the vessel. The final remains of the wreck were removed from the beach in the 1980s.

SS Skane was built in 1884 by Gray & Co., West Hartlepool and owned by Rederiaktiebol, Helsingborg. 1667 tons; 78.6 x 10.9 x 5.8m.

After the usefulness of motor powered lifeboats had been demonstrated by the Tynemouth lifeboat at the 1914 wreck of the Rohilla, Whitby was allocated its first motor lifeboat Margaret Harker-Smith a 40 ft self-righter powered by a 40 hp petrol engine. The lifeboat arrived in July 1919 and was housed in a new purpose built boathouse located just to the south of Fish Pier and paid for by the mother of  Lieut. F H G Trumble R.N. who had been killed in action off Ostend on 10 May 1918 while serving on board H.M.S. Warwick.

Coxswain Thomas Langlands retired after nearly 50 years service. He held the Institutions Gold and Silver Medals and took part in the rescue of over 200 lives.

Silver Medal awarded to John W Storry for the rescue of three of the five boy occupants of a small pleasure boat which overturned when trying to cross the harbour entrance on 30 May. The capsize was seen by Mr Storry who jumped into the sea and brought the three boys, all unable to swim, to the pier where he supported them, in spite of a sprained arm until a coble came to pick them up. The other two boys were able to swim to safety.

James Harland, shore signalman, was helping at a Flag Day launch of the lifeboat on 16 October when he was accidentally run over by the carriage and killed. His dependants were pensioned.

The Barge Marybridge which was being towed by tug from Hull to Thornaby-on-Tees with a cargo of wheat was caught in a northerly storm made for Whitby. As the vessels got within the pier extensions the Marybridge struck the bottom owing to the low state of the tide and broke free from the tug which it self grounded on the harbour 'Bar' a few yards ahead.

Both the Rowing Lifeboat RNLB William Riley and Motor Lifeboat RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith were launched, the Maybridge's crew of four being rescued by the RNLB William Riley whilst the RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith went to the aid of the Tug which had lost its rudder. The tug was safely brought into harbour but the Maybridge became a total loss.

The RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith was then dispatched to escort three fishing boats in the Harbour in the worsening weather conditions.

Following torrential rain on 4th September Whitby’s No, 2 lifeboat Jacob and Rachel Vallentine, a rowing lifeboat, was hauled by 70 people by road 1½ miles inland to Ruswarp where it was launched into the flooded river to rescue the five occupants of isolated buildings who were in serious danger.

On the evening of 25 January 1936 the Icelandic trawler Andri with a crew of twenty five bound for Grimsby with fish ran ashore in fog and heavy rain at 'Kelder Steel' at Kettleness (three miles north of Whitby).  Runswick's RNLB The Always Ready and Whitby Lifeboat's No 2 RNLB Jacob and Rachal Vallentine were launched. Whitby's No 2 boat which was a 'Pulling & Sailing Lifeboat' was dispatched as it was known that the Andri was aground and the Rowing Lifeboat could maneuver more closely to the stranded vessel.

The Runswick Lifeboat arrived on scene and found the Andri was in a bad position, in-shallow, surrounded by broken water, surrounded by rocks therefore they stood by until the arrival of the Whitby's rowing lifeboat which had been towed there by a Whitby fishing boat.

The Whitby's RNLB Jacob and Rachel Vallentine went into the surf and found three men in a small boat in the lee of the Andri, they were taken on board the lifeboat. Eight more men were then rescued from the fishing boat itself; the coxswain told the Andri's master that he would return for the remaining when the tide flowed.

The lifeboat then made for Whitby undertow by a motor fishing boat, leaving the Runswick lifeboat at anchor off the trawler. After putting the rescued men ashore at Whitby she returned to the trawler, still towed by the fishing boat. On arrival at Kettleness it was found that the remainder of the crew had been rescued by the Kettleness Board of Trade life-saving rocket apparatus team. The Runswick lifeboat returned to her station at 1.40am whilst the Whitby lifeboat returned home at 2am.

On the 12th April Mary Ann Hepworth a 41 ft non-self-righting lifeboat with twin 35 hp petrol engines with a cruising speed of 7 knots and an operating radius of eighty-six nautical miles replaced Margeret Harker-Smith. She was sold out of service in July 1974 having launch 374 times saving over 201 lives, 103 during wartime.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain James Murfield and Bronze Medals to Acting Second Coxswain John Dryden and Mechanic James Philpot for the rescue of 18 crew from the minesweeper Cape Comorin that ran ashore under the cliffs on the south side of East Pier on a dark foggy night in very heavy swells on 12 November. At 0350 the lifeboat launched but when arriving on scene was unable to anchor, so maintained a position alongside with the engines, and took off 11 crew before a huge wave threw the lifeboat back. Two more attempts were necessary to take off the remaining seven men.

Silver Medal awarded to Motor Mechanic James Philpot and Bronze Medals to Coxswain James Murfield, Acting Second Coxswain John Dryden (posthumously), Acting Bowman Christopher Wale (posthumously), Assistant Mechanic William Dryden and crew members Matthew Winspear and John Walker for a service on 3 February, when the Belgian s.s. Charles was wrecked in a south-easterly gale on Saltwick Nab. The lifeboat launched at 2120hrs in intense darkness but en route to the casualty was thrown on her beam end by a huge wave, throwing out two crewmen who were drowned, and badly injuring the coxswain. The lifeboat returned to station where a second crew was assembled including Mechanic Philpot who had been on the first launch, but they too were unsuccessful in finding the wreck in the total darkness. At 0730hrs the lifeboat launched a third time in an unsuccessful attempt to locate a reported life raft; Mechanic Philpot was again on board. Crew members John Dryden and Christopher Wale were the first members of a lifeboat crew to be lost during the war. Their dependants were pensioned.

Silver Medal awarded to crew member John Harland and Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Harry Murfield for rescuing a man overboard from the fishing vessel Easter Morn that was buried by a large sea in a north-north-westerly gale on 23 February 1946. Coxswain Murfield took the lifeboat towards the man, and threw a lifebuoy on a line, but the man made no effort to reach for it. It was obvious that he was unconscious, then without hesitation Mr Harland jumped overboard in his oilskins and lifebelt, seized the man and grabbed the lifebuoy. They were both hauled back on board the lifeboat. HM the King awarded the Silver Medal for Gallantry for saving life at sea to Harland for this rescue. He also received an Honorary Certificate from the Carnegie Hero Trust, as well as the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of lifesaving by any lifeboatman in 1946.

Mr John W Foster, who retired in 1948, after being Secretary of the Whitby station for 44 years, was appointed an Honorary Life Governor of the Institution on his retirement.

A Commemorative Vellum for 150 years awarded.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Eric Taylor for rescuing four men from the fishing boat Foxglove of Whitby on 15 April in a north-easterly gale and very rough sea. The lifeboat was at sea escorting small boats back to port when, on approach to the harbour, the fishing boat Foxglove was hit by a heavy sea which caused her engine to fail and one of her crew was washed overboard. He was rescued with difficulty from white churning water. Meanwhile Foxglove had drifted onto rocks with three crew still onboard and so the coxswain took the lifeboat through a gap in the rocks but the first attempt to take off the crew was unsuccessful. At the next attempt all three men were rescued and safely landed ashore. A few minutes later Foxglove broke up.

Coxswain David Harland died. He had been seriously injured on service in 1938 that resulted in his retirement on health grounds in 1939.

Number two station closed and the RNLI’s last active rowing lifeboat Robert and Ellen Robson remained in the Victorian double boathouse which was then adapted to be a lifeboat museum.

Driven by the passion of Whitby RNLI’s Hon Secretary Eric Thomson, the Lifeboat Museum was opened on 26 July in the old Victorian double boathouse and housed the rowing lifeboat Robert and Ellen Robson plus many objects of historical interest.

In the early hours of 27th November Mary Ann Hepworth was launched to into a fresh south-easterly wind and heavy swell with bitterly cold snow squalls to the coaster Fred Everard which was found aground near Blea Wyke Point listing heavily to starboard. Twelve crew were taken off the ship’s life raft on the port side in shallow water with limited manoeuvring room and then took the master and mate off on the starboard side. The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Coxswain W Harland for this challenging rescue.

Inshore lifeboat station established in May with the placing on service of a D Class lifeboat initially just for the summer season. These light, fast and highly manoeuvrable boats were ideal for inshore rescues in shallow water which were increasing in demand due to the rise of leisure activities at the coast.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to John Anderson and Peter Neville Thomas for the service on 18 August when the inshore lifeboat rescued three people and a dog from a speedboat that capsized in heavy surf about 150 yards from the lifeboat house then situated just up from the west beach.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to John Anderson and Peter Neville Thomas for the service on 18 August when the inshore lifeboat rescued three people and a dog from a speedboat that capsized about 150 yards from the lifeboat house.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain William Harland for rescuing the crew of two of the fishing vessel Gannet which had broken down in a north-westerly gale  two miles to the north east of Whitby with heavy rain squalls, poor visibility and a rough sea on the morning of 15 July.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to David Frampton and Robert Allen who jumped from the lifeboat Mary Ann Hepworth into a rowing boat which was sinking near the Scar Rocks in a northerly-westerly gale and rough seas to rescue a collapsed young man on the evening of 17 August.

The 44ft self-righting Waveney Class lifeboat White Rose of Yorkshire replaced Mary Ann Hepworth on 24 November. She was capable of 15.4 knots (17.7 mph) about twice the speed of the lifeboat she replaced. Because she couldn’t fit in the boathouse she was kept afloat in a purpose-built mooring pen adjacent to Fish Pier in front of the present boathouse.

Bronze Medal awarded to Helmsman Michael Coates and The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to crew member D Wharton for rescuing a man cut off by the tide on 25 July.  The man was clinging to a crumbling cliff face near Saltwick Nab,  Whitby and was in danger of losing hold and being swept away by the heavy breaking sea. The lifeboat anchored off and Helmsman Coates swam to the foot of the cliff attached to a line and persuaded the man to slide into the sea. They were then both hauled on board. The Helmsman and crew were awarded the Ralph Glister Award.

Bronze Medal awarded to crew member Brian Hodgson for the rescue of two people overboard from a swamped speedboat in rough seas on 18 August. One man was seen in the water outside the line of breaking surf and a second man, a non swimmer, on the edge of the surf.  Helmsman Hodgson entered the water to help support the first man so the inshore lifeboat crew (David Wharton and Barry Mason) could go directly to the other person who was in the greater danger.  Having picked up this survivor just as he was about to be engulfed in the surf, the inshore lifeboat returned to recover the other survivor and Brian Hodgson. By this time they too, were right on the edge of the surf line. Both survivors were landed. Crew members David Wharton and Barry Mason were given Medal Service Certificates.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Helmsman M Coates and crew members Brian Hodgson and Tony Easton in recognition of their skill, determination and seamanship on 5 June when the inshore lifeboat (ILB) gave help in pounding surf to a man who had been cut off by the tide. The ILB was damaged beyond repair during the attempted rescue.

At 03.26hrs on 30th September the reserve Lifeboat, William and Mary Durham slipped her moorings in Whitby with Coxswain Robert Allen in command after a distress call from the Scarborough trawler Admiral Van Tromp. In darkness and thick fog the trawler was found aground under the cliffs in the vicinity of Whitby High Light with heavy seas breaking over her.

While moving in to her the lifeboat was pooped by breaking seas that the Coastguard estimated could have been twenty feet high. Coxswain Allen withdrew to wait for more water and the HM Coastguard tried to help from the shore but the weather conditions were such it would have been impossible for the crew of the Admiral Van Tromp to come on deck and handle the lines. At 04.14 the casualty reported the situation was getting desperate and they would have to leave the vessel.

Coxswain Allen ordered that the lifeboat’s anchor should be laid and again with heavy seas breaking over the lifeboat she approached to about sixty feet from the Van Tromp. Three gun lines were fired and although one was thought to cross the deck no one could be seen on deck.

The anchor came loose and the lifeboat was driven back. She bounced on the bottom before Coxswain Allen could claw her back out to sea where on being recovered it was found the anchor flute had broken off. Coxswain Allen took the lifeboat alongside the fishing boats Jann Denise and Courage to borrow two anchors and two more gun lines. 

The larger anchor was bent on and laid and again the lifeboat was veered down to the casualty. There was still no sign of life on board. The lifeboat was around twenty-five feet from the Van Tromp when two enormous seas broke over her sweeping three of the lifeboat crew off their feet and washing them aft. Raymond Dent managed to hook his arm around a stanchion but dislocated his shoulder and Howard Bedford was brought up standing by his lifeline, struck his head and lost consciousness. The injured lifeboatmen sheltered in the well of the lifeboat and Coxswain Allen ordered the anchor rope cut and put Raymond Dent aboard the Jann Denise to be taken ashore for treatment. Howard Bedford remained on board. One more attempt was made to get to the Admiral Van Tromp and again the lifeboat was swept by heavy seas such that the handrails and the radio were damaged so she returned to deeper water to await daylight.

At 06.30hrs Crewmen Michael Coates and Brian Hodgson were brought to make up the lifeboat crew aboard the trawler Jann Denise.

The Whitby Inshore Lifeboat launched at 08.30 and made its way to Saltwick.

There was still a heavy swell and when a survivor was seen on a rock near The Black Nab, Helmsman Robinson drove the D class lifeboat in at full speed onto a ledge and the man was grabbed just as a large sea broke over the rock and washed the boat back into the sea saving him. Two crew from the fishing boat had made it ashore but two others were found dead on the fishing boat.

For this service a Silver Medal for Gallantry was awarded to Coxswain Robert Allen. The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Second Coxswain/Motor Mechanic Peter Thomson, Assistant Mechanic Dennis Carrick and Crew Members Howard Bedford, Raymond Dent and Thomas Hansel. Medal Service Certificates were presented to Michael Coates and Brian Hodgson.

On the Inshore Lifeboat a Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Richard M K Robinson and Crew Members David Wharton and Tony Easton were accorded The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. The Helmsman and crew were awarded the Ralph Glister Award.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Coxswain Mechanic Peter Thomson in recognition of his determination and perseverance on 8 April when the lifeboat gave assistance to the fishing vessel Rayella, which had broken down approximately four miles east of Whitby in a long and hazardous service lasting over nine hours in a strong north-north-westerly gale and a very rough sea. The Coxswain and three crew were injured requiring medical treatment.

The 47 ft Tyne class lifeboat City of Sheffield replaced The White Rose of Yorkshire and was kept afloat in the lifeboat pen adjacent to Fish Pier. She had a top speed of 18 knots with a range of 238 nautical miles and is now an exhibit at the Sheffield National Emergency Services Museum. During her seven years in Whitby she launched on service 239 times and saved 88 lives. Her naming ceremony was performed by HRH The Duchess of Kent on the 28th July 1989.

Bronze Medals were awarded to Coxswain Mechanic Peter Thomson and Helmsman Nicholas Botham in recognition of their courage and seamanship when one of the crew of the yacht Cymba was rescued and the body of the other was landed after the yacht had capsized near Whitby Rocks in a fresh northerly breeze and heavy breaking seas on 9 April. The casualty was being driven inland with the survivor in the water on the stern side, apparently attached by a lifeline. Taking the lifeboat up to the casualty stern first through atrocious sea conditions the Coxswain managed to secure the survivor at the third approach and drag him alongside the lifeboat where he was lifted aboard to safety. Both the ALB and the ILB were involved in the rescue.

A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman John Pearson and ‘The Thanks of the Institution’ inscribed on Vellum was accorded to his crew Nick Bentley and Glenn Goodberry in recognition of their high standard of seamanship, boat handling skills and bravery on board the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) and a collective Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman, Michael Vernon was presented to Coxswain Mechanic Peter Thomson, Second Coxswain Assistant Mechanic Keith Stuart, crew members Michael Russell, Nicholas Botham, Adrian Blackburn and Howard Fields in recognition of the support they gave in the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to  their fellow crew members in the ILB when they rescued a man in the water after his rigid inflatable boat capsized in heavy weather near dangerous rocks. With only three feet of water under the ALB, the ILB sped towards the shore and Helmsman Pearson had to take the lifeboat past the survivor to carry out a ‘snatch turn’ on the back of a sea to return for a head-to-sea approach. On the second attempt the man was hauled aboard the ILB which was driven straight out to deeper water, completely leaving the water surface on several occasions, and having reached the ALB successfully transferred the survivor to it.

A new Trent class lifeboat the 14 metre George and Mary Webb was placed on service 10 April 1996. The lifeboat was funded by the Mary Webb Trust. The Tyne class lifeboat City of Sheffield was relocated to the relief fleet in Poole and then Hartlepool before returning to Poole again. She is now on display at the Sheffield National Emergency Services museum.

The new station D class lifeboat D-521 O E M Stone II was placed on service on Wednesday 23 July 1997.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Second Coxswain Keith Elliott for a joint service with the Staithes and Runswick inshore lifeboat when an elderly man was rescued from a trimaran on 20 September 2000 at night in breaking seas.

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Mr Peter Nicholson, presented to Coxswain Keith Stuart for saving three men and their fishing coble the Mary Ann, which was disabled but under tow by another coble on 30 October. When this tow parted the lifeboat took over. This service was undertaken in a Force 11 Violent Storm, with four metre breaking seas, poor visibility and only a quarter of a nautical mile offshore. The lifeboat’s radar had been disabled by a big wave on leaving Whitby.

An anniversary Vellum commemorating completion of 200 years service was presented to the station. Voted on 28 November 2001 by the Committee of Management.

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Mr Peter Nicholson, presented to Helmsman John Pearson in recognition of his initiative and actions in raising the alarm and handling the D class inshore lifeboat (ILB) to save three men in a small boat on the afternoon of 23 January 2003 which was in danger in three metre breaking seas at the mouth of the harbour. Having rescued the three men he safely negotiated the entrance to the harbour, despite the dangers to the ILB that the sea conditions had created.

The old lifeboat Victorian double fronted station was reopened 19 September 2005 after nearly 50 years to be used for approximately a year while the town’s lifeboat station at Fish Pier was demolished and a replacement built. The Victorian lifeboat house had closed in 1957 and became a museum.

Provided by the generous bequest of Miss Olive Emma May Stone a new Inshore Lifeboat OEM Stone III was placed on service on 15 May. The previous ILB relocated to the relief fleet.

A new boathouse including crew facilities, meeting room, office and kitchen was opened in September 2007 together with a new berth for the All-weather Lifeboat including a floating boarding pontoon.

The new IB1 lifeboat D-674 OEM Stone III was placed on service on 15 May. This lifeboat was provided by the generous bequest of Miss Olive Emma May Stone. D-521 has been withdrawn to the Relief Fleet.

A new crew facility building completed in August at a cost of £575.000.

A framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Admiral Sir Jock Slater, was presented to the station in recognition of the initiative, teamwork and professionalism display by all those involved in first attempting to prevent a small pleasure cruiser, Last Call, leaving the harbour in totally inappropriate conditions and then the subsequent rescue of two of the three occupants on 23 November 2007 after their craft capsized outside the harbour in the rough weather. The third person was washed ashore in the damaged boat but sadly, despite their being rescued, none of the three survived.

Letter of appreciation to Helmsman Hugh Ramsden. Vellum Service Certificates for Crew members Jamie white and Stephen Boocock. Awarded for the part they played alongside RNLI lifeguards in the rescue of a kayaker from very rough seas at Sandsend on 30th August. Lifeguard Supervisor Shaun Messruther was accorded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum. Lifeguards Daniel Wordsworth and Calum Norman received a collective Framed Letter of Thanks.

A replacement ILB Warter Priory placed on service. 

The Lifeboat Museum reopened after refurbishment funded by an anonymous donor who left funds specifically for this purpose. The RNLI’s last active rowing lifeboat Robert and Ellen Robson, also refurbished, is a feature of the museum.

A new Shannon class lifeboat Lois-Ivan arrived on the 11th June and after extensive crew training became operational on the 8th September 2023. The lifeboat was largely funded through the bequest of the late Mr George Ivan Stone and by people who donated to have names of those they wished to be remembered inscribed on the lifeboat’s decals – over 10,000 in all. The Trent class lifeboat George & Mary Webb left Whitby on 12 September for the last time having been reallocated to the relief fleet. During her time in Whitby, she was launched on service 565 time, aided 1,008 people and saved 28 lives.

On 1 June the Lois Ivan was formally dedicated