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LIFEBOAT STATIONS AROUND THE COAST OF CORNWALL AND THE ISLES OF SCILLY |
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| ST IVES | |||
 St Ives Lifeboat Station © Photo by Geof Sheppard |
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| St Ives has had a lifeboat manned by local volunteers since 1840. Originally the service was carried out using a locally built boat called Hope but, in 1861, the RNLI started providing both the lifeboat and a new boathouse in Island Road. This was replaced by a new boathouse built on Market Strand in 1867. In 1911 the Market Strand boathouse was rebuilt on the quay. The early lifeboats were propelled by oars and sail. They were hauled into the water by teams of local men. The first motor lifeboat at St Ives was placed on service in 1938. On 31st January 1938 the lifeboat was capsised by the heavy sea with the loss of five out of 23 crew that had just been rescued. This was the first time a motor lifeboat had capsized. Almost a year later the lifeboat capsized three times in a violent gale with the loss of seven of the eight crewmen. Within 12 months two lifeboats and 12 lives had been lost – the worst such event in RNLI history. In 1964 an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was permanently established at St Ives. In 1968 the Offshore Lifeboat was supplemented by the provision of an Inshore Lifeboat. Currently this is a D Class provided by the British Army, appropriately named The Spirit of the Royal Corp of Transport. In 1994 a new boathouse and slipway were built for the station's Mersey class lifeboat, launching tractor, and ILB, providing a workshop, souvenir sales outlet and crew facilities. In 1997 the new D Class lifeboat, D-515 Spirit of the RTC, was placed on service to be replaced in 2007 by another D Class lifeboat Colin Bramley Parker. The latest lifeboat on station is the Mersey class all weather lifeboat 12-004 (ON1167), HRH The Princess Royal, (Civil Service No 41). On 18th October 2011 the RNLI announced that St Ives will have the Mersey lifeboat replaced with one of the newest class, Shannon, lifeboats on about three years time. See the full history of the lifeboats stationed at St Ives.  _350.jpg) (Left) The St Ives All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats searching off Godrevy in July 2009. © Photo Credit RNLI/Phil Drew (Right) The St Ives All Weather Lifeboat crew searching for a missing swimmer off Godrevy in July 2009 © Photo Credit RNLI/Phil Drew |
Station Address: St Ives lifeboat station, Lifeboat House, Wharf Road, St Ives TR26 1LF Station Tel: 01736 796422 Station Opening Times: Normally open during the summer months on weekdays only. Visitor Contact Derek Hall (Tel: 01736 794686) Shop Opening Times: Spring, Summer and Autumn - 11:00am to 4:00pm (Monday to Saturday). Closed the first week of November. Second week of November to 24th March - Tuesdays and Thursdays only Shop Tel: 01736 798804 |
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