LIFEBOATS

Photo: Illustrative image for the 'LIFEBOATS' page

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Photo: Illustrative image for the 'LIFEBOATS' page

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The Kathleen Mary in the 1960`s

By Colin Holden

Photo 1 shows the Kathleen Mary launched down the slipway from the boathouse, a scene which has been relegated to history with the larger boats and the destruction of the boat house. When the tide was low, this always made a great picture as she hit the water and her bow disappeared.

But why is there a lifeboat standing by in the background at the top of the picture?

Note at the righthand side of the picture the gridiron which was alongside the watch house.

Photo 2 is also of the Kathleen Mary and shows her passing the Harbour Watch house after being launched at high tide, and thus without the thrilling spectacle of a slide down the slipway.

This page was added by Colin Holden on 07/11/2008.
Comments about this page

Is that a lifeboat in the background of the first picture, or the old RAF crash boat?

By David Woolford
On 07/11/2008

The top picture is of the final launch of the Kathleen Mary from the boathouse, the lifeboat in the background is her replacement, the Waveney class "Louis Marchesi of Round Table" which would date this as being in the spring of 1976.

By Rob Patten
On 08/11/2008

From the angle and the one of the piles from #5 stage, I'd guess the top photo was taken from op top of the wheelhouse on the Meeching.

That's either a Waverley class lifeboat or an RAF boat. If it's 1960's, then the latter. A close up would show whether it's one of the 13xx pinnaces or the bigger 2xxx launches.

Andy

By Andy Gilbert
On 08/11/2008

I agree with Rob as I was on the launching crew for this the final launch of the Kathleen Mary with 44-019 waiting to escort her out of the harbour on her way to Poole, before she went on to be re-stationed at Porthendlein in Wales c1976.

By LAURENCE DEAKIN
On 20/12/2008
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