Skegness History
1830 The first lifeboat was provided by the Lincolnshire Coast Shipwreck Association.
1851 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Samuel Moody for service over 21 years, saving 53 lives.
1854 A second Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Samuel Moody for saving 11 people from the brigantine Atalanta.
1864 The RNLI took over the station and a new boathouse was built.
1874 Shore Helper Matthew Hildred (17) was run over by the carriage and killed during an exercise launch on 28 April of the new lifeboat Herbert Ingram.
1876 Silver Medals were awarded to Crew Members Samuel Moody and George Chesnutt for saving the Master of the barge Star. Mr Moody and Mr Chesnutt jumped in the icy water to rescue him and held on to the lifeboat’s life-lines while the boat was rowed to the shore.
1892 A new boathouse with doors at both ends was built on the main Promenade.
1928 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1932 A tractor was sent to the station for launching the lifeboat.
1935 A barometer was awarded to Coxswain Perrin for a shore boat rescue.
1954 Coxswain W Perrin was awarded the Silver Medal of the National Canine Defence League for attempting to rescue a dog that had fallen through the ice.
1964 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established in May with a D class lifeboat.
1975 An anniversary Vellum was presented to the station to celebrate 150 years as a lifeboat station.
1990 A new boathouse was built for the station’s new Mersey class lifeboat at the edge of the beach on Tower Esplanade. As well as providing housing for the Mersey class lifeboat and launching tractor, it provides housing for the station's D Class lifeboat, a workshop, an office, a souvenir sales outlet, and improved crew facilities.
1994 A new D class lifeboat was placed on service on 3 June.
1998 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Paul Martin for the service on 11 April to the yacht Sea Fever. After five attempts, the lifeboat was close enough for Crew Member David Sellers to jump into the cockpit. The occupant was found to be suffering from exhaustion and seasickness but otherwise uninjured. The engine was disengaged and the crew were able to secure a tow line and head for Grimsby, the safest option in the prevailing weather conditions.
2002 A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain John Irving for the saving of the yacht Wing and her lone yachtsman on 5 May 2002, which was aground on the Long Sands in the Parlour Channel.
Station honours
At Skegness lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Silver Medal 4
