Plans to restore old lifeboat

The boat was built in 1921 at Samuel Whites Boatyard in Cowes which also built the Mary Stamford Lifeboat which was lost in Rye Bay with 17 crewmen in 1928.

The Priscilla Macbean is historic in that she was the first lifeboat to be built with an engine capable of launching from a beach and she also carried sails and oars .

A member of the restoration group spotted the old wreck in a field near Hellingly and subsequently approached a number of retired Hastings lifeboatmen who had the knowledge and dedication to restore the vessel and place her on public view.

It is planned to display the lifeboat in Hastings Old Town whe the project is finished.