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The festive tradition of family’s five generations at Staithes and Runswick RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the generations of families who have volunteered their time and commitment 24/7, 365 days a year, to ensure the charity’s lifesaving service has continued for nearly 200 years.

RNLI/James Stoker

Alex Harrison-Gaze (left) and his father Colin Harrison. Alex is wearing the current ILB gear whilst Colin is wearing the cork life jacket which was introduced in 1854. (downloadable version below)

Christmas is a time for family and reflection, for many, a time for sharing stories of times and generations of the past. For the Harrison family from Staithes, these stories often involve saving lives at sea. For Colin Harrison, Deputy Launching Authority and trainee crew (having re-joined after age limit changes), and his family there are five generations of stories to be told.

Tracing his family history with the RNLI, the first crew member was Colin’s great grandfather William Brown Harrison who was on the crew in the 1880s, living next door to Staithes lifeboat station, it was perhaps natural for William to join the crew.

William’s sons Isaac Ward Harrison, Colin’s grandfather, and William Ward Harrison were next in the family to join the crew, becoming Coxswain and Second Coxswain respectively whilst the lifeboat was stationed at Runswick Bay. Isaac’s sons George Cole Harrison and Colin Harrison senior (Colin’s father) joined the crew in the 1950s again at Runswick Bay. Both George and Colin senior went on to become Coxswains.

Whilst the boat was at Runswick Bay, Colin Harrison junior joined at 16 years of age, following in his family’s footsteps of involvement in the lifeboat ‘of course other members of the crew were also related to a greater or lesser degree’ says Colin as he discusses his family’s involvement with the RNLI.

Also at that point, Colin was awarded a scholarship to Atlantic College; something which would further bolster Colin’s involvement in the RNLI, despite being away from Staithes.

The Atlantic class of lifeboat was developed there and one stationed at Atlantic College, on the coast of the Bristol Channel in South Wales. Colin was elected as Captain of inshore lifeboats (a senior helm) in his second year. This stood Colin in good stead for his return to Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat as, when reopened in 1978, the Staithes based station had an Atlantic 21 placed on service.

It was inevitable that Colin’s twins, Alex and Katarina, would join the crew, becoming the fifth successive generation of the Harrison family to volunteer for the RNLI.

On Christmas Eve 2004, with the twins only a few months old, Colin’s pager sounded whilst he was looking after them. Leaving them with a trusted family friend, he made his way to the lifeboat station to helm the lifeboat on a call out to search for a potential missing person – nothing was found, and Colin was ashore before his children even realised he’d left.

They joined the crew in 2021 upon turning 17. Katarina Harrison-Gaze, reflecting on joining the RNLI as a volunteer, said: 'It wasn’t really a question when I turned 17 if I was going to volunteer for the RNLI – it was something I always wanted to do.

'It is amazing to be able to train week in week out with friends and family sharing one common goal – saving lives. I have been on multiple call-outs; two of which were with my brother. These were both memorable, the first one because it was the first time in over 50 years that Harrison siblings had been on a callout together and the second one because I had just done my makeup to go out for a Christmas meal. Once I was on the boat, I realised I had fake lashes on, which were flapping in the wind, so I had to take them off!’

Alex Harrison-Gaze added ‘I am immensely proud to continue the family tradition, along with my sister, of saving lives at sea.’

Colin Harrison said: ‘There’s no feeling quite like knowing you’ve brought someone home safe especially at Christmas, a time for family. For five successive generations, my family have answered the call to save lives at sea – be they strangers, family or friends. But our volunteers can only continue to do this with generous donations from the public to fund our kit, training and equipment.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

Notes to Editor

Volunteer crews launch more than 100 times, on average, during the Christmas period every year. No matter what the winter weather throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea.

The Christmas period refers to 24 to 31 December inclusive.

Staithes and Runswick RNLI lifeboat has been in operation since 1978 with Atlantic B-Class inshore lifeboats (ILB’s). The present ILB at the station B-897 Sheila and Dennis Tongue III has been on station since 2016.

RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact:
For more information please contact James Stoker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at: [email protected] or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager: on 07824 518641 or, [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Colin Harrison Collection

Isaac Ward Harrison, Colin’s grandfather.

RNLI/James Stoker

Katarina Harrison-Gaze, along with her brother Alex became the fifth successive generation of the Harrison family to volunteer with the RNLI.

Colin Harrison Collection

Members of the Runswick Bay RNLI lifeboat crew in 1952. L to R: Isaac Ward Harrison, Howard Theaker (grandson of William Brown Harrison), Frank 'Tange' Verrill and William Ward Harrison.

RNLI/James Stoker

Alex Harrison-Gaze (left) and his father Colin Harrison. Alex is wearing the current ILB gear whilst Colin is wearing the cork life jacket which was introduced in 1854.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.