Whitbys old lifeboat restoration is a step closer to completion.

The 103 year old lifeboat, Robert and Ellen Robson which usually resides at the Whitby Lifeboat Museum was pulled by the crew back in September 2021 to a temporary home at Coates Marine in Whitby.

Here the old carriage, the only remaining one of its kind, and the wooden rowing lifeboat have been lovingly restored by a small team of volunteers for over 360 hours so far.

Curator of the museum Neil Williamson said: 'It has been painstaking but very rewarding working on the old lifeboat. The museum where she is usually housed is undergoing a major redevelopment at the moment, and the old rowing lifeboat will form the centrepiece of the exhibitions in what was the former lifeboat station.

The boat has a rich history of saving lives at sea in Whitby so it is very important that we keep this special piece of RNLI history maintained for the people of Whitby and visitors to the town to enjoy for years to come.'

The lifeboat was recently reunited with its carriage with help from the staff at the Coates Marine boatyard. Robert and Ellen Robson was hauled out of the shed and lifted back onto the carriage for the next step of the renovations, re-painting the old lifeboat.

Neil said: 'I would like to thank everyone who has helped us so far, the staff at Coates Marine have been extremely helpful. As well as the current RNLI volunteers who have lent a hand.'

Thanks also to Geoff Mackrill and Ed Betteridge at Teal & Mackrill Ltd of Hull for their kind support in the ongoing restoration of the Lifeboat and Carriage boat.

Tecmac have provided some of the paints used in the restoration so far and will continue to be doing so.'

For more information contact lifeboat press officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or at [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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