Bridlington Lifeboat 2024
Published 12:40pm on 21 May 2025
2024 was a milestone year for the RNLI as it marked the bicentennial anniversary of the charity and the celebrations ran throughout the year. The RNLI was formed in a public house in London in 1824, although there has been a lifeboat at Bridlington since 1805, with Bridlington joining the RNLI in 1852. Two hundred years of the RNLI was celebrated with style here in Bridlington, as well as all the stations around the British Isles.
The celebrations started on 3 March with a Service of Celebration at Bridlington Lifeboat Station, with many invited guests and local school children to mark the official start of RNLI 200. The following day, volunteers Steve Clark and Mike Milner and their wives, from Bridlington RNLI, attended the 'Service of Thanksgiving' at Westminster Abbey and joined hundreds of fellow volunteers from the RNLI across the UK, as well as distinguished guests and members of the Royal family, again in recognition of 200 years of the RNLI. In April, Bridlington RNLI were represented at the Service of Thanksgiving at York Minster, with volunteer crew member Bob Taylor chosen as a standard bearer.
In May, two Bridlington RNLI crew, A J Shepard and James Mather, along with their families, celebrated the RNLI's 200th anniversary in style at a special garden party at Buckingham Palace. In attendance was Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal along with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and RNLI President The Duke of Kent, after the event was granted by His Majesty the King.
On Saturday 1 June the volunteers of Bridlington RNLI welcomed the RNLI's 'Connecting our Communities' relay event marking the charity's 200th anniversary in 2024. The scroll relay event was visiting 240 lifeboat stations around the UK. Once at the lifeboat station, the scroll was signed by representatives of Bridlington Lifeboat volunteers. The signatories were Steve Emmerson (Operations), Ash Traves (Water Safety), Richard Dunk (Management), Jo Cook (Retail) and Joy Marrison (Fundraising).
On the 1 August, every volunteer RNLI station around the UK came together for 'One Moment One Crew' which reached a climax at 6.24 pm (18:24hrs) when commemorative photographs were taken at all the stations around the UK and were used to create a montage image which will go on display at the RNLI college in Poole. Many other events have taken place at the station over the past 12 months in celebration of the bicentenary.
In 2024 Bridlington RNLI has recruited several new volunteers which are spread out in all areas of the charity, from boat crew right through to fundraisers and water safety advisers. Each volunteer of the charity makes up a small cog within the wheel that keeps the charity running, for us to continue to saving lives at sea. Over the past 12 months many of the crew have passed out on their plans which has given the station more resilience both with shore crew and boat crew, however we are always looking out for new volunteers who may want to join us. For anyone interested in joining us, please come down to the station for a chat and see what the RNLI can offer you in relation to becoming a much respected and valuable volunteer.
History was also created in Bridlington in 2024, when volunteer crew member Sarah Berrey became Bridlington RNLI's first fully qualified female helm of the D Class inshore lifeboat, which was recognised and endorsed by the RNLI in Poole, the HQ of the organisation. There have also been pass outs for volunteers as shore crew, tool track drivers, ILB crew, ALB crew as well as welcoming many new volunteers in non-operational posts.
As is tradition, the year started with the volunteers of the Bridlington RNLI attending the annual Great Gale service at the Priory Church, in remembrance of those that died, both mariners and RNLI crew, on that fateful day in 1871. The crew and congregation were welcomed to the Priory Church by Reverend Neil Bowler for the first time since being appointed the rector in charge. Reverend Neil Bowler has also been a welcomed visitor to the lifeboat station, as well as welcoming the crew and towns folk of Bridlington on Saturday 15 June when Bridlington Priory Church held a special service of celebration for Bridlington RNLI to mark the RNLI in their bicentenary year. Bridlington RNLI has always had a strong link with the Priory Church, dating back to the 19th century.
For once the weather was set fair for the annual exercise in July, with the RYYC, Bridlington RNLI, Flamborough RNLI, Bridlington Coble Preservation Society and Bridlington Sea Cadets. Not only did the weather bring out many vessels on the water but all the crews were greeted with a playful pod of dolphins who entertained those on the water, as well as those on shore watching the evenings exercise. Once again, the objective of the exercise was working with the RNLI in 'Man Over Board' procedures, an exercise that benefitted all parties concerned. The evening was a huge success and all concerned took away some knowledge and gained experience of what to do should the need arise in getting a person in the water safely onto a vessel.
Once again, at the end of July, the station opened its doors to the public to celebrate the annual Bridlington Lifeboat Open Day originally called Flag Day. The event was incorporated into the 200 celebrations, and held fun activities, such as a frisbee challenge, an octopus surprise, hook a lifeboat, soak the crew and so much more, like the perennial favourite, welly-wanging. There was also a raffle, refreshments, Lifeguards, Coastguards, and other water safety assets to educate as many people as possible, not only from the town, but also the hordes of visitors who flock to Bridlington each summer.
Over the past 12 months both the All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB), the 'Antony Patrick Jones', and the Inshore Lifeboat (ILB), 'Ernie Wellings', have been on regular exercises and have both been called into action many times over the year, always ready to answer the call for anyone in trouble around our coasts.
In 2024 the services of both boats have been required on more than 30 taskings, although confirmation will need to be verified by RNLI in Poole before all statistics can be released to the media. As is normal, these requests have been varied with both good and few sad outcomes which is expected on an average year. Below are a few examples of these call outs, which always seem to appear at varying times of the day but the volunteer Bridlington RNLI always respond at a moment's notice whatever the time of day or weather conditions.
Bridlington RNLI did not have long to wait for the first call out for 2024 which came on 22 January when the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) 'Antony Patrick Jones' was requested to launch, however just as the lifeboat was ready to leave the shore, they were thankfully stood down by the HM Coastguard.
On the 20 February, Bridlington RNLI received a tasking from the HM Coastguard to launch the inshore lifeboat (ILB) 'Ernie Wellings to assist a windsurfer in difficulty near Fraisthorpe. The ILB launched within 10 minutes of the assistance call with 3 volunteer crew onboard, set off to assist the windsurfer. The volunteer crew of the ILB reached the casualty within a matter of minutes and confirmed that the windsurfer was not injured but unable to make their own way back to shore. The lifeboat crew then took the windsurfer and his equipment back to the shoreline at Fraisthorpe where he recovered his windsurf.
On the 4 April, the Volunteer crew from Bridlington RNLI lifeboat station were tasked, by HM Coastguards, in response to a local fishing vessel that had lost power and had little chance of returning to port under its own steam some 28 miles south east of Bridlington. With a volunteer crew of six, Bridlington all-weather lifeboat ALB launched from Bridlington beach leaving the launch vehicle shortly before 3pm. With the all-weather lifeboat making good speed in reasonable sea conditions, the volunteer crew rendezvoused with the stricken fishing vessel just under two hours. Due to the position of the casualty vessel, which was close to the busy shipping grounds, the decision was made to take it under tow, along with its crew of six and return the boat to Bridlington harbour. After a slow but successful tow to Bridlington, the fishing vessel was returned to the harbour with all its crew safely at just after midnight, the lifeboat was recovered from the beach, washed down and re-fuelled, and was back on service by 1.35 am.
On the 9 September, the Bridlington RNLI relief lifeboat (ALB) 'Ruth and David Arthur', with a crew of six, was launched at 9.40pm and set off at good speed to rendezvous with a vessel in slight seas, force three easterly winds, but with poor visibility, some 8 miles east of Bridlington. Upon reaching the vessel 25 minutes later, a casualty, who had been suffering for many hours with severe sea-sickness, was taken onto the all-weather lifeboat, along with another person who was to accompany the casualty back to Bridlington. Upon reaching the beach at 10.35pm at Bridlington the casualty was able to walk from the ALB and was handed over, by the RNLI volunteers, to the waiting Paramedics. The boat was then recovered, washed down and re-fuelled and was back on service by 12.03am.
Our final tasking in 2024 came on 27 December on a very foggy night when the ALB was requested by the HM Coastguard. Information was received by the volunteer lifeboat crew that a male had been taken ill on a drilling platform 26 nautical miles from Flamborough Head. Normally the HM Coastguard would deploy their search and rescue helicopter but this was not possible due to the poor weather conditions. The ALB launched in appalling visibility but made good speed to the drilling platform reaching the casualty vessel by 10pm. The casualty was removed from the platform and taken aboard the lifeboat, which departed the scene at 11pm making its way back through the fog towards Bridlington. Upon reaching Bridlington, the casualty was handed over to the waiting ambulance where he was taken to hospital for medical attention. The volunteer crew onboard the ALB returned to the beach, was recovered, washed down and refuelled by 1am the following morning.
As we say goodbye to our bicentennial year, thoughts now pass onto what lies ahead for 2025. Bridlington RNLI volunteers will be working hard again throughout the year to ensure that when the call comes, we will be ready to save more lives at sea. Being a lifeboat crew member is one of the most exciting and fulfilling volunteer roles you could do. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to make a difference in your local community, to save lives and be part of the larger RNLI family.
Here is to a happy and safe 2025 and thank you all for your continued support.
Mike Milner
Volunteer Bridlington Lifeboat Press Office
Last updated 12:40pm on 21 May 2025
