Stonehaven RNLI commemorates 150th Anniversary of a devastating tragedy
On Sunday 25 February Stonehaven RNLI will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of what was a devastating tragedy for the town of Stonehaven.
In February 1874 four crew members of the Stonehaven lifeboat the St George, Coxswain James Leiper, 2nd Coxswain John Brown, Alexander Main and James Lees, lost their lives and the boat herself was smashed beyond repair.
The St George had been launched to the aid of the Grace Darling of Blyth, which was flying signals of distress and heading north of Stonehaven. When the lifeboat reached her the signals of distress were taken down and the Grace Darling continued northward. Unable to return to Stonehaven through the heavy sea swell, due to the previous day’s storm, the St George made for Aberdeen Harbour. However, crossing the Bar at Aberdeen, disaster struck and she capsized throwing the crew into the water. When she righted some of the crew were able to scramble aboard, however four of the crew tragically lost their lives that day.
‘It is important that we remember those brave volunteers that came before us’, says Andy Martin, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Stonehaven RNLI. ‘In this year that sees the 200th Anniversary of the establishment of the RNL, it is more important than ever that we commemorate those that have lost their lives in an effort to save others in peril on the sea.’
Stonehaven RNLI will be holding a commemoration service, commencing at 11am on Sunday 25 February, in the station’s current boat shed at Stonehaven harbour.
Notes to editors
· Stonehaven lifeboat station has been operating since 2014. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stonehaven-lifeboat-station
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Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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