- Source: Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboat Station
Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is located on Coast Drive, actually at Greatstone-on-Sea, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south east of New Romney, on the Kent coast.
A lifeboat was stationed here between 1861 and 1928, but was known as 'Dungeness' lifeboat (1861–1874) and then renamed 'New Romney' lifeboat (1874–1928). It was never called 'Littlestone Lifeboat'.
In 1966, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) established Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboat Station as an Inshore lifeboat station.
The station is one of 238 RNLI lifeboat stations, and currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Jean McIvor (B-922).
History
The Dungeness Lifeboat Station was established at the 'No.1 Battery' near Lydd in 1854, with the placement of a 27-foot (8-Oared) Self-righting lifeboat. However, the 2-ton boat provided was found to be too heavy to be easily launched over the shingle, and so a 1.5-ton boat was provided in 1857. Of course, this was now too lightweight for the sea conditions encountered. In 1861, another new boat was provided, but the solution to the weight issue, was to relocate the lifeboat. The boat was transferred to a station at Littlestone-on-Sea, and a boathouse constructed near the coastguard station across the end of Marine Parade.
In 1874, it was found necessary to reopen a station nearer to Dungeness point, this being named Lydd (Dungeness) Lifeboat Station. To avoid confusion, the station at Littlestone was renamed New Romney lifeboat station. The New Romney station stayed in operation until 1928, when faster motor-powered lifeboats were placed at flanking stations.
In response to the boom of water-based leisure activity in the 1950s and 60s, the RNLI introduced a small fast inflatable 2-man lifeboat at many stations. Able to be launched by 2 or three people in just a few minutes, and with a crew of just two or three, the advantages over the regular All-weather lifeboats was clear, and the ideal solution to be able to provide a fast response to inshore incidents.
In 1966, the RNLI established an Inshore lifeboat station at Littlestone-on-Sea, and placed on service a D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore boat (D-90). Inshore lifeboat were initially placed at stations during summer months. A further three D-class lifeboats were placed at Littlestone, but in 1972, a larger twin engined trial Atlantic-class lifeboat, known as an Atlantic 17, arrived on station.
A B-class (Atlantic 21) would be placed on service in 1976, and the following year, a new brick-built boathouse was constructed, to house the boat, and provide better crew facilities. On Tuesday, 31 May 1976, HRH The Duke of Kent, President of the Institution, visited Littlestone. After the dedication of the Atlantic 21 and new boathouse, the Duke unveiled a plaque, formally opening the boathouse, which had been built by the crew members themselves, from material donated, or discounted by local companies.
The station would receive a new B-class (Atlantic 85) in December 2020. The boat was funded from the legacy of £600,000 from Mrs Jean Campbell McIvor, of Middlesex. Mrs McIvor, who died in 2017, had been a radar operator for the Women's Royal Air Force during World War II. She was also the River Thames Punting Champion 1947–50.
Littlestone-on-Sea Inshore lifeboat Fred Clarke (B-785) would be the last of the B-class (Atlantic 75) lifeboats on service, being retired in 2021. The boat was replaced by the B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat Jean McIvor (B-922), which had been at the station since 2020, but had training delayed due to Covid.
In 2023, Helen Crittenden, wife of the station Operations Manager Matt, became the first female Helm to be appointed at Littlestone.
Littlestone-on-Sea lifeboats
= Launch and recovery tractors
=See also
List of RNLI stations
List of former RNLI stations
Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References
External links
Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboat Station