Selsey Lifeboat Station - History
Selsey Lifeboat Station - The Big Build - please click here
Photos - please click here
- 1838 A Silver Medal was awarded to Lieut E B Westbrook RN for saving
three men from the sloop, 'Ann'.
- 1861 A Lifeboat station was established at Selsey.
The Lifeboat was launched over the beach on skids.
- 1886 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Lawrence.
- 1920 A new slipway was built. The Lifeboat was hauled on a trolley
on rails until it reached this slipway, 25m out to sea.
- 1925 A new boathouse was built on piles.
- 1930 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Frederick Barnes for
rescuing two men from the motor yacht, 'Lucy B'.
- 1939 During the Second World War the Selsey Lifeboat, Canadian Pacific,
was launched on service 50 times.
- 1950 The Maud Smith Award, for the bravest act of lifesaving, was awarded
to Crew Member W Arnell, who rescued a man from a capsized boat.
- 1952 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Leslie C Pennycord for the
rescue of six Crew from the 'Swift'.
- 1956 Coxswain Douglas Grant was awarded a Silver Medal for the rescue of
18 people from the yachts 'Maaslust', 'Coima' and 'Bloodhound'.
- 1960 A new slipway, with a gradient of 1:5, and new station were completed.
- 1961 A Centenary Vellum was presented to the station.
- 1968 An inshore Lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a 'D' class
Lifeboat.
- 1978 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to
Coxswain Michael Grant when the lifeboat saved three Crew from the
fishing vessel, 'Jenny'.
- 1979 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to
Coxswain Michael Grant for rescuing two Crew from the sinking fishing vessel, 'New Venture'.
- 1979 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Michael Grant when the Lifeboat
rescued the entire Crew of 20 from the cargo vessel 'Cape Coast', which was listing and rolling
violently.
- 1984 A second Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Michael Grant when
the Lifeboat rescued the Crew of six and saved the yacht 'Enchantress'.
- 1984 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman David Frank Munday when the ILB rescued the three Crew
from the motor cruiser 'Joan Maureen' in October 1983. The Ralph Glister Award, for 1983, went to
Helmsman David Munday and Crew Members Anthony Delahunty and Nigel Osbourn for this service.
- 1985 Ten lifeboat Crew and committee members of Selsey lifeboat station
were admitted to the Freedom of the City of London. The Tyne class all weather lifeboat,
'City of London', was funded by the City of London Special Appeal.
- 1987 A boathouse was built for the 'D' class lifeboat and contains a Crew
room, store and souvenir shop.
- 2005 It was decided that 'Voluntary Worker' would replace 'City of London'
after 22 years' exemplary service by the latter.
- 2011 Selsey Lifeboat Station celebrates 150 years
- 2016 The inshore Lifeboat shed is demolished to make way for the building of
the new onshore Lifeboat station
- 2017 The new Lifeboat Station is finished.
- 2017 'Denise and Eric', the new Shannon class Lifeboat, arrives on station.
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Station Honours
At Selsey Lifeboat Station the following awards have been made:
| Date |
Name |
Award |
| May 2017 |
Adrian Harland - Branch Treasurer |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| July 2015 |
Sue Lintott, Richard Milverton, Andrew Savory and Martin Savory - Fund Raising Committee Members |
Dedicated Service Silver Badge |
| May 2015 |
John Light - Former Branch Chairman |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 2012 |
Clive Cockayne - LOM |
Bar to Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 2011 |
Selsey Lifeboat Station |
150-year Vellum |
| January 2006 |
Clive Cockayne - LOM |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 1999 |
Jean Warwick - Hon. Sec. Lifeboat Association |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 1998 |
Dr. Andrew Murphy - Hon. Medical Officer |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 1995 |
Ron Carbines - Admin. Officer |
Dedicated Service Gold Badge |
| January 1988 |
Molly Wood - Souvenir & Gift Sec. |
30-year Service Gold Badge |
| May 1984 |
D. Cockayne - Hon. Sec. |
20-year Service Gold Badge |
| March 1984 |
Ron Wells - Mechanic |
25-year Service Award & the British Empire Medal |
| October 1983 |
Dave Munday - Helmsman |
Bronze Medal |
| October 1983 |
ILB Crew Members |
Framed Letter of Thanks |
| October 1983 |
Dave Munday, Tony Delahunty, and Nigel Osbourn |
Ralph Glister Award for Meritorious Service |
| September 1983 |
Mike Grant - Coxswain |
Second Silver Medal |
| September 1983 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Medal Service Certificates |
| January 1979 |
Mike Grant - Coxswain |
Silver Medal |
| January 1979 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Medal Service Certificates |
| December 1978 |
Mike Grant - Coxswain |
Thanks on Vellum |
| December 1978 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Vellum Service Certificates |
| December 1977 |
Mike Grant - Acting Coxswain |
Thanks on Vellum |
| December 1977 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Vellum Service Certificates |
| January 1961 |
Selsey Lifeboat Station |
Centenary Vellum |
| July 1956 |
Douglas Grant - Coxswain |
Silver Medal |
| July 1956 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Thanks on Vellum |
| November 1951 |
Leslie Pennycord - Coxswain |
Bronze Medal |
| April 1950 |
William Arnell - Crew Member |
Thanks on Vellum & Maud Smith Award for Bravest Act |
| June 1930 |
Frederick Barnes - Coxswain |
Bronze Medal |
| June 1930 |
Lifeboat Crew Members |
Thanks on Vellum |
| May 1886 |
James Lawrence - Coxswain |
Silver Medal |
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