Mudeford_Lifeboat_Station
Mudeford Lifeboat Station
RNLI Lifeboat Station in Mudeford Quay, England
Mudeford Lifeboat Station[1] is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed on Mudeford Quay 1963 and the present station was opened in 2003. It operates an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).
| Mudeford Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | Mudeford Quay, BH23 4AB |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50.724337°N 1.742143°W / 50.724337; -1.742143 |
| Opened | Station opened 1963 Present building 2003 |
| Owner |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
During the 1960s the RNLI deployed inflatable ILBs at places around the coast where a quick response to increasing numbers of leisure boats and water users could not be made by larger all-weather lifeboats (ALBs) at stations established to serve commercial shipping. Mudeford Quay, at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, was selected as a suitable place and a small inflatable boat provided. This type of boat could only operate in relatively good conditions and were seldom used in the winter. As their usefulness was proven, some stations received an 'intermediate' ILB which could operate in more severe conditions. As early as 1970, Mudeford was one of the stations used to trial a new Atlantic 21-class lifeboat, (B-500).[2] Later, a C-class boat was stationed at Mudeford in 1981, a new boathouse being opened for it on 28 June.[3]
In 1988 the crew facilities were improved, and Mudeford received a new type of boat, an Atlantic 21 B-Class rigid-hulled inflatable (B-529), 18 years after the first trials.
New boathouse and crew facilities were opened on 25 October 2003.[3]
The crew facilities are in a two-storey building. This is rendered and has a tile roof; large first floor windows at both ends give views across the water. Adjoining this and at right angles is the boathouse. This is built of timber with large windows along one side that allow visitors to see the lifeboat inside. The roof is metal with large skylights. The boat doors open onto a concrete platform and shallow slipway.
The Atlantic 85 can go out in Force 6/7 winds (Force 5/6 at night) and can operate at up to 35 knots (65 km/h) for 2½ hours.[4] Adjacent lifeboats are at Lymington Lifeboat Station to the east, and Poole Lifeboat Station to the west.[5] If a larger ALB is needed in the area it will come from Swanage.
The following are awards made at Mudeford[6]
- Mr Kenneth Derham - 1959
- The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
- Ian Parker, Helmsman - 1995
- Stuart Ward, crew member -1995
- Toby Abbott, crew member - 1995
- Framed RNLI Letter of Commendation
- Mel Varvel, crew member - 2023[7]
| At Mudeford[2] | Op. No.[lower-alpha 1] | Name | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | D-4 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1964 | D-7 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1965 | D-11 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1965–1967 | D-42 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1967 | D-21 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1968–1970 | D-11 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1970 | B-500 | Unnamed | B-class (Atlantic 21) | |
| 1970–1981 | D-190 | Unnamed | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| 1981–1988 | C-507 | Unnamed | C-class Zodiac Grand Raid Mk.IV | Originally Op. No. D-507. |
| 1988–1990 | B-529 | Alexander Duckham | B-class (Atlantic 21) | |
| 1990–2006 | B-583 | Ken Derham | B-class (Atlantic 21) | |
| 2006– | B-806 | Mudeford Servant (Civil Service No.48) |
B-class (Atlantic 85) | |
- "Mudeford Lifeboat Station – RNLI website". Home page of the Mudeford station. RNLI © 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- "Mudeford History". RNLI. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
- Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 67.
- "Mudeford's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- Adams, Louise (1 March 2023). "'Brilliant' Mudeford RNLI volunteer crew member recognised for bravery". RNLI. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
