Fleetwood RNLI in old lifeboat rescue
On Friday 22 February, Fleetwood RNLI were called by HM Coastguard to attend to a vessel that had broken down near Skippool Creek.
The volunteer crew were surprised to discover the vessel was an old Watson class lifeboat, built over 100 years ago. The lifeboat, named ON 530 Oldham was built in 1904 and served time in Abersoch on the Lleyn Peninsula. It launched over 30 times and saved 69 lives.
In the 1960’s, she was converted to a yacht and renamed Grey Dawn and went on to compete in races around Europe. Grey Dawn then ended up in Skippool Creek and was recently purchased by Fleetwood lad, Paul Mills, who plans to restore her to former glory. Unfortunately, on its voyage from Skippool to Fleetwood, the engine, which hadn’t been run for some time, broke down.
The Fleetwood inshore lifeboat, Mary Elizabeth Barnes and the all-weather lifeboat, Kenneth James Pierpoint attended the incident. A volunteer lifeboat crew member was put aboard the yacht and the Grey Dawn with Paul and his three friends still aboard, were towed back to Jubilee Quay in Fleetwood.
Once safely ashore, Paul said ‘ Big thanks to Fleetwood lifeboat for coming out to me. They don’t get enough credit for what they do. But I for one, will always have respect for the team. Thanks guys.’
Notes to editors
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Fleetwood lifeboat station opened in 1859, and is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.
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A video of the incident should be available soon from the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
- More photos of the incident are available
RNLI media contacts
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For more information please contact Ken Harcombe, Fleetwood RNLI Volunteer Press Officer, on 07970 197195 / [email protected] Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Media Manager, West, on 07786 668829/ [email protected]. Or, Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer West, on 07771 941390/ [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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