Poole Lifeboat Station Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Poole Lifeboat Station
Flag of the RNLI
The boathouse and crew building in 2024
General information
Type	Lifeboat station
Location	The Quay, Poole, BH15 1HZ
Country	England
Coordinates	50°42′46″N 1°59′32″W / 50.7127°N 1.9921°W / 50.7127; -1.9921
Opened	1865 at Sandbanks 1882 at Fisherman's Dock 1974 at Lilliput Marina 1989 at Poole Bridge
Owner	RNLI

The Poole Lifeboat Station is where the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) keeps its boats for search and rescue missions. It is located in Poole, Dorset, England. The first lifeboat arrived in Poole Harbour in 1865. The station you see today opened in 1988.

Since November 2016, the station has used two types of inshore lifeboats. These are an Atlantic 85 and a D class lifeboat.

History of Poole Lifeboats
Poole Old Lifeboat Museum
About the Station Today
Lifeboats of Poole Station
Awards and Honours
See also

History of Poole Lifeboats

Early Days at Sandbanks

The very first boathouse was built in 1865 at Sandbanks. This spot is right by the narrow entrance to the big, natural Poole Harbour. It was quite far from the town of Poole. Because of this, the lifeboat crew had to travel by horse-drawn coach. They would be picked up from the Antelope Hotel and taken all the way to Sandbanks.

Moving to Fisherman's Dock

In 1882, a new boathouse was built. It was on land rented from Poole Corporation at Fisherman's Dock. This was at the east end of Poole Quay. A special slipway was added in front of the boathouse in 1897. This was important because the public slipway was often blocked by other boats.

In 1887, a flagstaff was put up. This allowed messages to be sent between the station and Sandbanks. Back then, a signal rocket was used to call the crew for a rescue. In 1892, they tried using a signal mortar instead. However, they went back to rockets in 1914. The mortar's sound could be confused with an explosion from the nearby gas works.

Motor Lifeboats and World War II

In 1939, a motor lifeboat called Surf arrived at the station. This meant the last 'pulling and sailing' lifeboat was no longer needed. This boat was the Thomas Kirk Wright. On May 30, 1940, it sailed to Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo. It was one of the many boats called to help rescue soldiers. In fact, it was the first of 19 lifeboats to reach Dunkirk. The Royal Navy crewed it, but it was damaged by enemy fire.

After repairs, the Thomas Kirk Wright made a second trip across the English Channel on June 2, 1940. It then returned to its regular duties in Poole.

Thomas Kirk Wright (ON 811)

Newer Boats and Station Moves

An inflatable Inshore Rescue Boat was added in 1964. It was removed in 1970. By then, a Dell Quay Dory boat was also in use. This was taken away in 1985. Ten years later, an Atlantic 21 ILB (Inshore Lifeboat) joined the station.

The boathouse at Fisherman's Dock closed in 1974. A new station opened with the Poole Harbour Yacht Club at Lilliput Marina. Another move happened in 1989. The lifeboat moved back to Poole Quay, but this time to the west end, under Poole Bridge. The next year, new facilities for the crew and storage rooms were built. This was done by adding a two-story extension to the police office on Poole Quay.

In 1994, a floating boathouse was placed next to the lifeboat's mooring. This was for the new ILB that started service in Poole the following year.

In November 2016, the RNLI decided to remove the all-weather lifeboat from Poole. This was because nearby stations had faster boats. Instead, a D-class inflatable lifeboat was stationed there. It works alongside the existing Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

Poole Old Lifeboat Museum

The Lifeboat Museum

The old boathouse at Fisherman's Dock closed in 1974. A year later, it became an RNLI museum. The museum was given back to the council in 1991.

The main attraction at the museum is the Thomas Kirk Wright lifeboat. It is on loan from the National Maritime Museum. This boat was used from Poole when the station was in the same building at Fisherman's Dock. It was the station's first motor lifeboat, built in 1939. It was taken out of service in 1962. In 1940, it was one of the lifeboats that helped in the Dunkirk evacuation.

About the Station Today

The crew facilities and storeroom are part of a larger brick building. It faces the water on Poole Quay. The top floor has a big window that looks out over the lifeboat's pontoon. The boathouse for the Inshore Lifeboat is moored next to this pontoon. It is right by the Lifting Bridge.

Lifeboats of Poole Station

47-023 City of Sheffield
D-804 Gladys Maud Burton
B-826 Sgt Bob Martin (Civil Service No.50)

Pulling and Sailing Lifeboats

These were the early lifeboats, powered by oars and sails.

Years at Poole	ON	Name	Built	Class	Notes
1865–1880	—	Manley Wood	1864	Peake	A 34-foot boat. It was renamed Joseph and Mary in 1879.
1880–1897	188	Joseph and Mary, Boy's Own No. 2	1880	Self-Righter	A 34-foot, 2-inch boat.
1897–1910	316	City Masonic Club	1892	Watson	A 38-foot, 1-inch boat.
1910–1939	608	Harmar	1910	Self-Righter	A 37-foot, 6-inch boat.

Motor Lifeboats

These lifeboats used engines for power.

Years at Poole	ON	Op. No.	Name	Built	Class	Notes
1939–1962	811	—	Thomas Kirk Wright	1939	Surf	Sold in 1964. You can see it on display in the Old Lifeboat House at Poole.
1962–1969	891	—	Bassett-Green	1951	Liverpool	Sold in 1969. In May 2018, it was owned privately in Campbeltown.
1969–1971	873	—	George Elmy	1950	Liverpool	This boat capsized in 1962, and nine lives were lost. Sold in 1972. It was restored and is on display at Seaham Harbour since July 2013.
1971–1974	872	—	J B Couper of Glasgow	1949	Liverpool	Sold in 1976 and renamed Etoile Du Nord. It is on display at the Peninsular Hotel, Vale, Guernsey.
1974–1983	1029	44-011	Augustine Courtauld	1974	Waveney	Sold in 1999 to a coastal patrol group in Australia. Later became a work boat in Melbourne.
1983–2001	1089	33-07	Inner Wheel	1983	Brede	Sold in 2002 to South Africa. It is still in service in December 2023 at Hout Bay.
2001–2016	1131	47-023	City of Sheffield	1988	Tyne	Now kept at the Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield.

Inshore Lifeboats (ILBs)

These are smaller, faster boats used closer to shore.

Years at Poole	Op. No.	Name	Class	Model
1965–1967	D-69	—	D	RFD PB16
1967–1970	D-46	—	D	RFD PB16
1967–1969	A-2	—	A	Hatch
1969–1972	A-502	—	A	Hatch
1971	A-503	—	A	McLachlan
1972–1973	A-500	—	A	Hatch
1974–1975	A-501	Bob Abbot	A	Hatch
1975	B-8	—	B	Trial boat
1975–1985	A-502	—	A	Hatch
1977	B-8	—	B	Trial boat
1985–1995	A-513	Sam and Iris Coles	A	Boston Whaler
1995–2008	B-710	Friendly Forrester II	B	Atlantic 75
2008	B-736	Toshiba Wave Warrior	B	Atlantic 75
2008–	B-826	Sgt Bob Martin (Civil Service No.50)	B	Atlantic 85
2016–2017	D-798	John Wickens	D	IB1
2017–	D-804	Gladys Maud Burton	D	IB1

Awards and Honours

The Poole Lifeboat Station and its crew have received many awards for their bravery. These awards recognize their amazing efforts in saving lives at sea.

RNLI Gold Medal
- Captain Charles Howe Fremantle, RN – 1824

RNLI Silver Medal
- George Barnes – 1824
- Stephen Curtis – 1824
- Lt. Joseph Elwin, RN - 1825
- Lt. Thomas Parsons, RN – 1853
- The Right Hon The Viscount Bury, MP – 1868
- Mr Charles Pride – 1868
- Richard Stokes, Coxswain – 1882

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
- Richard Wills, Coxswain – 1906
- Thomas Wills – 1906
- John Wills – 1906
- Richard Cartridge – 1906
- Henry Russell – 1906
- David Coles, crew member – 1986
- Steven Vince, crew member – 1986
- Raymond Collin, crew member – 1986

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
- Steve Vince, Coxswain – 1995
- Robert Doak, crew member – 1995
- Geoffrey Langley, crew member – 1995
- Gavin McGuiness, Helmsman – 2001
- Anne Millman, crew member – 2001
- Paul Savage, crew member – 2001

Poole Lifeboat Station facts for kids

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