Girvan Lifeboat Station

Girvan Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat at Girvan in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It opened in 1877 and today operates an all-weather lifeboat.

Girvan Lifeboat Station
Girvan Lifeboat Station is located in South Ayrshire
Girvan Lifeboat Station
Girvan in South Ayrshire
General information
TypeLifeboat station
LocationGirvan
AddressKnockcushan Street, Girvan, Strathclyde, KA26 9AG
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates55°14′36″N 4°51′29″W / 55.2434°N 4.8581°W / 55.2434; -4.8581
OpenedFirst station 1865
Current building 1993; 31 years ago (1993)
OwnerRNLI
Website
rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/girvan-lifeboat-station

History

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There were few lifeboats in south west Scotland in the 1850s but the RNLI had stationed one at Ayr in 1859.[1] In 1865 decided that Girvan would also be a good place for a lifeboat. There were many fishermen who would be able to provide a crew, and a road close to the coast both north and south of the town would allow it to be transported to other places where it could be launched when required. The new boat was paid for by Alexander Kay, an insurance broker in Glasgow, and a boathouse was built on land donated by the Duchesse de Coigny.[2]

The boathouse was rebuilt in 1910. Soon after that the RNLI began to provide motor lifeboats and it was Girvan's turn in 1931, the new boat being inaugurated on 16 May 1931. The pulling and sailing lifeboats stationed here since 1865 had saved 55 lives in that time. The motor lifeboat could cover a larger area more efficiently and so the station at Ayr closed the following year.[3]

A new facility on a different site was provided in 1993. The new lifeboat that took up station at the same time was paid for and named Sylvia Burrell who had died the previous year but had long been a supporter of the RNLI and had knitted nearly 400 pairs of mittens for lifeboat crews.[4][5]

 
The station built in 1993
 
Crew facilities inside the station

Girvan lifeboats

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'ON' is the Official Number used in RNLI records from 1884.
'Op. No.' is the Operational Number displayed on the boat.

At Girvan ON Op. No. Name Class Built Comments
1865–1887 The Earl of Carrick Peake 1865 32 ft (9.8 m) boat with 10 oars.[2]
1887–1901 167 Sir Horne Popham Self-righter 1887 [6][7]
1901–1931 452 James Stevens No. 18 Liverpool 1901 [8][9]
1931–1952 739 Lily Glen – Glasgow Self-righter 1931 First motor lifeboat at Girvan.[3][10]
1952–1955 795 Frank and William Oates Liverpool 1937 Previously stationed at Eyemouth, withdrawn from Hastings in 1964. It was sold and modified as a fishing boat Seren-y-Mor, last reported to be at Tenby in 2019.[11]
1955–1960 874 Robert Lindsay Liverpool 1950 Originally stationed at Arbroath, withdrawn from Criccieth in 1968. Reported to being restored at Stiffkey.[12]
1960–1961 857 The Jeannie Watson 1949 Previously stationed at Buckie, withdrawn from Portavogie in 1978. Sold and modified as a pleasure boat, last reported at Burghead in 2019.[12]
1961–1968 897 St Andrew (C.S. No. 10) Watson 1951 Originally stationed at Whitehills, transferred to Arklow in 1968 but returned to Girvan in 1976.[13]
1968–1976 909 James and Barbara Aitken Watson 1954 Previously stationed at Troon. Withdrawn after being wrecked in service. Sold in 1977 and reported in 2023 to be in store at Migennes in France.[4][13]
1976–1977 897 St Andrew (C.S. No. 10) Watson 1951 Previously stationed at Girvan in 1961–1968. It served in the Relief Fleet until 1982 when it was sold. It is now preserved at Pembroke Dock.[13]
1977–1983 941 William and Mary Durham Watson 1957 Previously stationed at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Sold and became the fishing boat Ron Meadhonach at Portree.[14]
1983–1989 1084 33-04 Philip Vaux Brede 1982 Sold in 1990 and reported to now be the pilot boat Mourne Mist at Greencastle.[15][16]
1989–1993 1105 33-12 Amateur Swimming Associations Brede 1985 Sold in 1993 for use as a lifeboat in New Zealand. By 2021 it had been retired and operating as a pleasure boat at Picton.[17]
1993–2018 1021 12-37 Sylvia Burrell Mersey 1993 Sold in 2021 and reported in 2022 to be on the Isle of Wight but named Ailsa Craig.[5][18]
2018– 1330 13-23 Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan Shannon 2018 [19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 109.
  2. ^ a b "Additional stations and new life-boats". Life-boat. Vol. 5, no. 55. 1865. p. 549.
  3. ^ a b "Inaugural Ceremonies Scotland". Lifeboat. Vol. 28, no. 307. 1931. p. 338.
  4. ^ a b "Portpatrick's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Ceremonies". Lifeboat. Vol. 53, no. 257. 1994. p. 170.
  6. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 8–9.
  7. ^ "Additional stations and new life-boats". Lifeboat. Vol. 13, no. 149. 1888. pp. 619–620.
  8. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 20–21.
  9. ^ "Additional stations and new life-boats". Lifeboat. Vol. 18, no. 201. 1901. pp. 252–253.
  10. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 32–33.
  11. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 34–35.
  12. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 38–39.
  13. ^ a b c Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 40–41.
  14. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 42–43.
  15. ^ "Naming ceremonies, handing-over and dedications". Life-boat. Vol. 48, no. 485. 1983. p. 267.
  16. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 48–49.
  17. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 50–51.
  18. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 54–55.
  19. ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 57.
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