At a meeting of the RNLI’s Committee of Management on 4th March 1875, it was agreed to form Swanage Lifeboat Station. 150 years later the station continues to provide a lifesaving service by a team of dedicated volunteers.
A plot of land which was provided by the Earl of Eldon. The station costing £350 was built along with a stone slipway at an extra cost of £175.
The first Swanage lifeboat, the Charlotte Mary was funded thanks to a donation of £500 received by the RNLI on 18th December 1873, from Mr. Samuel J. Wilde, of Sergeant’s Inn, in Fleet Street, London. The donation was made on behalf of his late aunt, Miss Margaret Ryder Wilde. This legacy was left in memory of Miss Margaret Ryder Wilde’s two late sisters.
Out on a shout in February
On Saturday 8th February 2025 HM Coastguard requested the launch of the Shannon class Swanage lifeboat to join the search for a solo sailor, reported overdue on passage from Brixham to Portsmouth.
In decreasing visibility due to low cloud, the lifeboat and volunteer crew launched shortly after 9 am and were tasked to search the inshore waters between Studland and Durdle Door.
Weymouth lifeboat and a Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft were also searching for the overdue yacht, concentrating on the area south and west of Portland Bill.
Just before the Swanage lifeboat reached Lulworth HM Coastguard reported that a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) signal had been detected and a position was passed. The PLB position proved to be much further west than either Swanage or Weymouth were searching, and new instructions were passed to Weymouth, while Torbay lifeboat crew were paged.
The Swanage lifeboat volunteers completed the search to Durdle Door and, shortly afterwards, were released to return to the station after hearing that the missing yacht and solo crew was found and receiving assistance from the Torbay lifeboat.
Top Photo: 49123 Swanage Shannon class
