Montrose's station history

A ‘Life-boat’ was first stationed at Montrose in 1807, built by Henry Greathead. This lifeboat was managed first by a private committee, and in 1818 was handed over to the Town Council which administered the affairs of Montrose Harbour.

Silver Medals awarded to John Nichol, David Edwards, Robert Mearns (Jnr), Alexander Coul, Robert Japp, Charles Coul, William Finlay, John Peart and Alexander Watt for the rescue of the crews, totalling 30 lives, of the vessels Annie, Sophia and Ann on 25 March. Three of the rescuers were master mariners who manned the lifeboat, and six were the crew of a salmon coble.

Station taken over by the Institution from the Collector of Customs and Chairman of the Harbour.

Lifeboat house erected on the north side of the River South Esk close to the old house.

Slipway constructed at a cost of £100.

Silver Medals awarded to Coxswain W Mearns (number one lifeboat) and Coxswain W Mearns Jnr (number two lifeboat) for the rescue of the nine crew and one small boy from the Brig Henriette of Memel that ran aground in a south-easterly wind three quarters of a mile north of Montrose on 21 December 1872. The number one lifeboat launched; going through the harbour mouth and across the dangerous Annat Bank the coxswain and three crew were washed out by a tremendous sea. Another large sea took her close to the wreck from which six men threw themselves into the lifeboat. She then went on to pick up the members of her own crew. The number two lifeboat launched from the shore and took off from the wreck the three remaining survivors including a small boy. Unfortunately one of the lifeboat men, Alexander Paton, died a few days after from the effects of exposure. Committee of Management voted £50 to the local fund.

Presented five life-belts to the crew of the Steam Tug that tows the lifeboat to the bar on the occasions of service free of charge.

Silver Medal to Coxswain David Duncan on retirement.

Number two lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £320 a few miles north by the side of the old mouth of the North Esk River.

Number two station closed and lifeboat house handed over to owners of site.

Water laid on to number one lifeboat house.

Silver Medal to Coxswain James Watt on retirement.

Number one lifeboat, whilst on exercise, was struck by a heavy sea and driven on to the rocks without loss of life. The lifeboat was damaged beyond repair.

New lifeboat house constructed.

The sum of £100 received from Montrose Harbour Board for the old lifeboat house.

Silver Medal awarded to David Mearns Master of the trawler Southesk for saving the drifter Yarmouth and her crew of nine drifting through high seas in a strong south-easterly gale on 9 May.  Great risk was incurred as the vessel was drifting ashore in a strong gale.  After towing for 26 hours the Yarmouth was brought into safety.

Medals and Diplomas awarded to the crew of the number two lifeboat station by The Norwegian Government for saving the seven crew of the schooner Heidstad that was wrecked in a south-easterly very strong gale with very heavy seas, two miles north of Montrose harbour entrance on 19 November 1916.

A Centenary Vellum awarded.

Three members of the crew washed out of the lifeboat whilst on service but were recovered.

A Commemorative Vellum awarded for 150 years.

Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution awarded to Coxswain Paton and six members of the crew in recognition of the service carried out on 4 May when the dredger Coquet Mouth was saved and her crew of four were rescued when the vessel grounded on the Annat Bank at the entrance to Montrose.

British Empire Medal presented to Coxswain James Robert Paton by the Minister of Aerospace, Mr R D Heseltine MP, on 15 November.

HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Mrs Angus Ogilvy, named the new Montrose lifeboat Lady MacRobert on 27 August.

New assembly building constructed.  It provides a souvenir sales facility and improved crew facilities.

The station’s new Tyne class lifeboat ON1152 Moonbeam was placed on service April 1989 with the official naming ceremony held on 1st July 1989. The lifeboat was provided by the gift of Mr & Mrs Roland Sutton.

A D class lifeboat sent to station on 2 February for operational evaluation for one season. Arrangements subsequently made for the provision of a temporary hut adjacent to the shore facility and also for the installation of a new Schat davit for launching and recovering the D class. Approval from the Montrose Port Authority was received for the sitting of the temporary hut and launching davit.

Inshore lifeboat station established. New D class lifeboat D-481 placed on service on 18 July.

Following successful completion of the one year evaluation period, proposals were drawn-up for the construction of a permanent building to house the D class lifeboat. These proposals were subsequently approved and work commenced in October 1996 and was successfully completed in January 1997.

Bi-centenary Vellum presented to station.

The new class of lifeboat IB1, D-626 David Leslie Wilson was placed on service on Thursday 12 August. D-481 has been withdrawn.