Whitstable History

1963 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established in July and a D class lifeboat was placed on service. The ILB was kept at East Quay.

1974 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced with a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

1977 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman David Victor Foreman for the rescue of the three crew from the motor fishing vessel RX216. The vessel had run out of fuel and was dragging her anchor towards the Street Bank in a north easterly gale and a rough sea on the night of 25 February.

1981 On the evening of 19 April in a north easterly gale, a very rough sea and poor visibility, the catamaran Rumpleteazer had a broken steering gear and was taking on water. The lifeboat rescued the three crew and the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Michael A Judge for this service.

1986 On 19 January, the fishing vessel Duke Senior went aground off Pollard Spit in a westerly storm and rough seas. For the rescue of 12 anglers, the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Michael Gambrill.

1989 A single-storey extension was built to the side of the boathouse. A fuel store, turntable store, a general storeroom, drying room and a souvenir sales outlet with a display area were all provided.

1999 The Atlantic 21 capsized on 3 January after being launched in a gale to three angling boats in Herne Bay. All three crew were uninjured.

2000 A new boathouse was completed and the Atlantic 75 Oxford Town & Gown arrived at the station.

A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman David Parry for his courage, seamanship and skill displayed when the lifeboat saved the three crew from a sinking dory in gale force 8 winds and rough seas on 28 May.

2001 Ex Helmsman, now current Lifeboat Operations Manager, Mike Judge was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen for services to marine safety.

2003 Her Majesty The Queen awarded David ‘Larry’ Lamberton the MBE for services to the RNLI as a helmsman and operations manager, now retired.

Station honours

At Whitstable lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 3

Bronze Medal 1