Cleethorpes History
1868 The first lifeboat station was established.
1882 The lifeboat was moved to Grimsby as there was difficulty getting a crew and also launching at Cleethorpes. The station at Cleethorpes closed.
1893 During a launch to a steamer the lifeboat was damaged against one of the piers. Coxswain Charles Barr died when he was thrown out and crushed between the boat and the pier.
1898 A second lifeboat station opened with the steam lifeboat James Stevens No. 3.
1903 The steam lifeboat was transferred to Gorleston and the second station closed.
1904 A new boathouse and slipway were completed at the entrance to Fish Docks.
1915 The lifeboat station was named Grimsby Dock.
1916 Crew Member Robert Little died from exposure after a service to the destroyer Violet.
1927 The lifeboat station closed.
1965 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established at Cleethorpes and was known as Humbermouth.
1980 The station closed in March as the area was covered by the Humber lifeboat based at Spurn Point.
1987 An inshore lifeboat station was re-established at Cleethorpes due to the increasing number of call outs in the area. A D class lifeboat arrived in June.
1990 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman David L Steenvoorden for rescuing five canoeists in difficulties in the Humber Estuary and then assisting the yacht Serenus on 30 July 1989. Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Crew Members Steven A Burton and Martin J Kennedy. The Ralph Glister Award was also awarded for this service.
A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Helmsman David Steenvoorden, Tractor Driver N Holroyd, Launcher T Smith and Crew Members DW Richardson, MA Sweeney, MJ Kennedy, MN Fowler, SA Burton and WJ Barlow for a service on 30 July 1989 when 29 people were rescued during a charity raft race. The coble Eva, manned by a crew of shore helpers and lifeboat crew members, also launched and joined the rescue operation.
1994 The lifeboat Blue Peter VI was placed on service on 22 February.
1996 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Crew Member Gary Barlow for rescuing three people from the yacht Kass A Nova.
1997 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Crew Member Shane Johnson for boarding and handling the yacht Ayesha in extreme conditions. Her crew were suffering from exhaustion, shock, seasickness and various injuries.
1998 A boathouse extension was completed in January.
2000 A further extension to the boathouse was completed in April.
2004 A Silver Medal was awarded to Helmsman Gary Barlow, and Bronze Medals to Helmsman Shaun Sonley and Crew Members Ian Sanderson and Tony Salters for a service, with the Humber lifeboat, to the fishing vessel Dollard that was being driven ashore in north westerly force 8 winds, gusting higher and with heavy snow squalls. The two fishing boat crew were saved, as was the Dollard herself.
Station honours
At Cleethorpes lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 3
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 4
Silver Medal 1
