Lymington History
1965 The RNLI established an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station with a D class lifeboat.
1973 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by a B class Atlantic 21 in August.
1978 A new boathouse was built near the Yacht Club and marinas.
1981 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Alan Coster for saving two crew from the fishing vessel Al Mor, which was sinking at the entrance to the Lymington River. In a gale and rough sea he swam from the lifeboat and led her two crew over the marshes for half a mile to the lifeboat on 17 December 1980.
1988 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Helmsman Alan Coster and Crew Member Michael Crowe for a service to a 28ft yacht, which was in difficulties off the Shingles Bank. Crew Member Nicholas Hayward and the helicopter crew also involved in this service received letters of appreciation from the Director.
1991 A first floor extension to the boathouse was completed to provide improved crew facilities and a souvenir sales outlet.
2002 An Atlantic 75, B-784 Victor ‘Danny’ Lovelock, replaced the Atlantic 21 lifeboat.
2006 A new boathouse was built on the existing site. This facility enables the lifeboat launching trolley to be permanently hitched to the tractor for safer and faster launching. The new boathouse is large enough to accommodate the next generation of inshore lifeboats (Atlantic 85) without further modification and provides much needed facilities for training, crew changing, workshop facilities and storage. A new and expanded souvenir sales outlet is also included.
The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Nicolas Hayward for saving the three crew and the yacht Piciess. Crew Members Barry Down, Robin Mursell and Austin Honeysett each received a Framed Letter of Thanks for this service. The B class lifeboat was operating at the very limit of her capabilities in a force 8/9 gale, torrential rain and very rough seas.
Station honours
At Lymington lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 4
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Bronze Medal 1
