Celebrating 150 years of Shoreham Lifeboat Station

And this year the Shoreham Lifeboat Station will celebrate its 150th anniversary, with a host of events to commemorate its illustrious history and the selfless dedication of its volunteers.

Shoreham lifeboat coxswain Steve Smith said this was a ‘momentous year’. “We plan to mark it with a number of events,” said Mr Smith.

“We really hope the community will want to support us and especially hope people will come and see our anniversary regatta on Sunday, June 14.

“It will be history in the making on the water and hopefully a real spectacle.”

A lifeboat station was established by the RNLI at Shoreham in 1865 on Kingston Beach at a cost of £133.

There have been nine lifeboats at the station in the last 150 years and eight medals for gallantry have been awarded to crew members, five silver and three bronze.

RNLI lifeboat volunteers are on call 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and will respond whatever the time or weather conditions.

Volunteers have just four minutes to get to the lifeboat station and launch the lifeboat.

A registered charity, RNLI crews and helpers offer their time for nothing.

The Hope in the Great War exhibition will be at the station on Kingston Beach from June 3 until June 28.

The free exhibition commemorates the centenary of the First World War, honouring the courage and determination of RNLI volunteers who saved lives in the midst of conflict.

The anniversary weekend will include the William Riley Victorian pulling lifeboat on display at the Shoreham farmers’ market in East Street on Saturday, June 13 from 9am to 1pm with crew dressed in kit from old and modern times.

On Sunday, June 14, there will be a regatta off Kingston Beach from 9.45am with the Victorian pulling boat being launched and rowed along with the Shoreham lifeboats, flank station lifeboats from Brighton and Littlehampton and the coastguard all re-enacting a rescue scenario.

Sunday, June 28, is the lifeboat station’s free annual open day from 10am to 4pm with a chance to tour the two lifeboats, see them launch and meet the crew.

An anniversary ball will round off the celebrations at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, on Saturday, October 10, from 7.15pm with a live band, casino, photographer, raffle and three-course meal.

Tickets cost £55 each.

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