Helensburgh History

1965 The RNLI established an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station at Rhu with the D class lifeboat D-66. This lifeboat was provided by the Helensburgh ladies lifeboat guild. The ILB was kept in a small wooden boathouse at Rhu Marina and was launched into the mouth of the Gareloch.

1971 A B class lifeboat, the Atlantic 17, was placed on station for training and evaluation. The Atlantic 17, with a crew of two, was the predecessor to the B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

1972 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn.

1978 The Atlantic 17 lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced with an Atlantic 21 lifeboat, B-543.

1990 The Atlantic 21 lifeboat Andrew Mason was placed on station.  The lifeboat was a gift from the late Mrs Janet Wilson Smith in memory of her brother, Andrew Mason.

1996 A new slipway was built over the existing slipway to provide improved launching and recovery of the lifeboat.

1997 A larger boathouse was built, providing improved crew facilities and housing for a larger B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat.

2003 The Atlantic 21 lifeboat Andrew Mason was withdrawn from service and was replaced by the present Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Gladys Winifred Tiffney, funded by a generous bequest from Gladys Winifred Tiffney.