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Scarborough RNLI remembers lost crew at their annual memorial service

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday 10 December 2023, Scarborough RNLI’s 69th annual memorial service was held at St Mary’s Church. The service, conducted by Rev Richard Walker and featuring Filey Fishermen’s Choir, marks the 69th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in Scarborough RNLI’s history.

View of the congregation at Saint Mary's Church, Scarborough during the Scarborough RNLI ECJR memorial service. In the centre of the image is the RNLI ensign, and below that in the distance is the standard bearers and Filey Fisherman's Choir.To the left and right of the aisle is the congregation who are wearing black or dark coloured clothing, sat on dark wood benches. They are surrounded by the stone pillars and aches of the church's architecture..

RNLI/Dave Barry

The Service
The service was attended by the Mayor of the borough of Scarborough, Cllr John Richie, along with members of the HM Coastguard and Scarborough Sea Cadets. They were greeted by Colin Woodhead, the Scarborough RNLI Chairperson. Readings were conducted by RNLI crew members Pete McGeown, Adam Sheader and Colin Woodhead.

A terrible storm hit Scarborough’s South Bay on 8 December 1954. In atrocious conditions, with enormous waves and a howling gale, the lifeboat had been at sea all afternoon, successfully escorting several fishing boats back to the harbour. With its rescue work complete, at approximately 4:15 pm, the E.C.J.R. was engulfed by waves and capsized close to the harbour mouth.

Ernie Eves, Bob Crawford, John Sheader, John Cammish and Frank Bayes, were thrown from the lifeboat.

As the lifeboat righted itself, Bill Sheader, Mickey Scales and Alan Rennard hauled back aboard Ernie Eves and Bob Crawford. However three men were missing, coxswain John Sheader, Second coxswain John Cammish and Signalman Frank Bayes. They died in the surf. Their deaths devastated their families and numbed the whole town with shock and grief.

Roger Buxton, Scarborough RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager commented: 'Every year since this tragedy has been commemorated by a church service remembering their ultimate sacrifice and final act of selflessness on the first Sunday after its anniversary.

'During Scarborough RNLI’s 222-year history, the number of people rescued is in substantial but untold numbers. For all that, sixteen men have given their lives in the service of Scarborough lifeboat. They include Frank Dalton, who died in an accident three years before the E.C.J.R. in tumultuous seas on 9 December 1951. All 16 men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the history of our station are remembered during the service.'

This was also Rev Richard Walker's last RNLI memorial service before he moves onto a new role. All the crew of Scarborough RNLI would like to thank Rev Richard Walker for his support during his time in Scarborough and wish him well in the future.

Notes to editors
  • Photographs from the visit are available to download. Please credit RNLI/ Dave Barry.
  • As a charity, the RNLI relies on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work. There are many ways to donate to the RNLI, for more information visit https://rnli.org/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Laura Lyth, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer or Nick Gough, volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 01723 360520 or email: [email protected]
The left hand marble memorial has inscribed 'In memory of Frank Dalton the bowman of the Scarborough Lifeboat who died on service on 9 December 1951 erected by subscription'. In the centre is an embroidery of an all-weather lifeboat with the RNLI ensign to the left of the vessel. The right hand marble memorial has inscribed 'Jack Sheader- Cox, John Cammish - 2nd cox, Frank Bayes - signalman. They gave their lives on service 8th December 1954. Greater love hath no man than this.'

RNLI/Dave Barry

The RNLI memorials

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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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.

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