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Nigel Packer -Chairman of Fundraising: This year we have another fun packed list of events with the addition of two new ones, the Harvest Festival and the Christmas Carol Service. To see this year's fundraising calendar click HERE . Throughout the year I will be keeping in touch with you all with the fundraising events etc. and hope that we not only see our regular visitors, but a lot of new ones to the station as well. For those of you who have not visited Dungeness Lifeboat Station before, admission is completey free of charge and if you are around this way and at a loose end with the family or on your own, come in for a chat, you will be most welcome. To see the Fundraising Committe click HERE . |
Dungeness Lifeboat Station History After the Providence was moved to New Romney in 1861 there were several shipwrecks. These were mostly dealt with by the lifeboats of Rye and Romney. In 1873 a dreadful collision occurred just off Dungeness, when the ship 'Northfleet' was lost. The public attention which this tragedy attracted because of the heavy loss of life resulted in the reopening of the Dungeness Lifeboat Station in 1874.
Because of the number of shipwrecks in the vicinity of Dungeness, the R.N.L.I. decided to send one of its largest self-righting lifeboats to be kept moored afloat to supplement the services of the 'R.A.O.B.'. This was done in 1892 and was called the 'Number 2' boat. The new boat was called 'Thomas Simcox'. The 'R.A.O.B.' was replaced in 1912 by the 'Mary Teresa Boileau'. The replacement for the number two lifeboat, 'Thomas Simcox', in 1915, had been the 'David Barclay'. It was decided in 1929 to close the number one lifeboat station, which left the number two lifeboat, 'David Barclay', to become known as Dungeness Lifeboat Station. The 'David Barclay' was succeeded by the 'Charles Cooper Henderson' in 1933. Altogether tthe 'Charles Cooper Henderson' was launched one hundred and seventy-one times and saved sixty-three lives. The 'Charles Cooper Henderson' was replaced in 1957 by the 'Mabel E. Holland'. In 1977 the 'Rother Class' lifeboat, 'Alice Upjohn' arrived at Dungeness. She was replaced by the present lifeboat, the 'Mersey Class' lifeboat, 'Pride and Spirit' in 1992 which was a generous gift from Eric and Jean Cass of Virginia Water, Surrey, and cost £658,000 to build and equip. |
The lifeboat 'David Hullet' came on station in that year. During its period of service, it was launched fifteen times, saving twenty-seven lives. It was decided to replace the 'David Hullet', and in 1887 a new self-righting lifeboat, the 'R.A.O.B. 130' arrived at Dungeness.© Dungeness RNLI 2006. All rights reserved.