Cromer Lifeboat Station

Cromer Lifeboat Station is located in Cromer, a seaside town located approximately 23 miles (37 km) north of Norwich, on the north-east coast of the English county of Norfolk. A lifeboat was first placed at Cromer in 1804 by a local committee, being taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association (NSA) in 1823.

Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in December 1857.

The station comprises two station buildings. A large boathouse, completed in 1999, sits at the end of Cromer Pier, and houses the Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat 16-07 Lester (ON 1287), on station since 2007. A smaller boathouse, built in 1902, and located at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, is home to the D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Mr Eric Sharpe (Civil Service No.54) (D-868), on station since 2022.

History

There has been a lifeboat service operated from Cromer for two centuries – predating the establishment of the RNLI. The volunteer crews at Cromer have gained an exemplary record of gallantry. 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 45 Bronze RNLI Medals for gallantry have been awarded at Cromer, helping make Cromer lifeboat station one of the most well known of the lifeboat stations operated by the RNLI. Some of the most notable rescues and services have been carried out by now famous coxswains, such as Henry George Blogg and Henry "Shrimp" Thomas Davies BEM, and their crews.

In the early days of the station, the lifeboats were kept outdoors on the east jetty. From 1804, a privately operated service was funded by subscription, which was administered by a local committee, led by Lord Suffield, the third baron of Gunton Hall. Other dignitaries on the committee included George Wyndham of Cromer Hall, Thomas Mickleburgh, a local merchant, Joseph Gurney, a Cromer draper, and grocer Benjamin Rust. In 1823, management of the station was taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association (NSA), who became responsible for lifeboat stations between Hunstanton and Gt. Yarmouth. This continued until 1857, until the NSA fell into financial troubles, with the lifeboats in a declining state of repair. At a meeting of the NSA on 21 November 1857, it was decided that the whole operation of the NSA be transferred to the management of the RNLI. This was formally agreed at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 3 December 1857. The NSA had built a lifeboat house at Cromer, which once stood some 100 yards from the high-water mark, close to where the Inshore lifeboat station now stands. The RNLI altered and renovated this station at a cost of £46-2s-7d, but by the mid-1860s, this station had outlived its usefulness and a new boathouse was planned. The new site was on the east gangway, and work started on the new station in 1867. The new boathouse project also included building an extension to the sea walls, and a slipway across the top of the beach. The work cost £476-4s-0d and was carried out by a local builder by the name of E. Simmons. The cost of the station was met by Benjamin Bond Cabbell, who also provided a new lifeboat for the station, costing £306. The lifeboat, a 34-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and oars, was duly named Benjamin Bond Cabbell. In 1883, the Benjamin Bond Cabbell was unable to make progress whilst attempting to get away to the aid of the schooner Alpha. The schooner was driven ashore, with the crew of five rescue by the Rocket Brigade. The Benjamin Bond Cabbell was abandoned on the shore, the crew dissatisfied with the boat and its lack of power (oars). Subsequent meetings and discussions brought about the arrival of a new lifeboat, a 14-oared non-self-righting lifeboat, based on the designs of their old North Country lifeboat, which was in use up to 1858. The new boat, later to be known as a Cromer-class lifeboat, was again named Benjamin Bond Cabbell (ON 12).

A new 38-foot Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat was placed on station in 1902. The cost of the new lifeboat and equipment was defrayed from the bequest of Miss Emily Heartwell of Holloway, London. At a ceremony on 9 September 1902, the new boathouse was inaugurated, and after a short service of dedication by Rev. J. F. Sheldon, the lifeboat was named Louisa Heartwell (ON 495). At least three-feet longer than any previous Cromer lifeboat, a new boathouse was required, and was constructed at the end of the esplanade, at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, at a cost of £525. When the new 46-foot 6in motor-powered lifeboat H. F. Bailey (ON 670) arrived on station in 1923, the 1902 boathouse would now not be large enough. Another new boathouse was again required. This time, a much larger boathouse, with a roller slipway, was constructed at the end of Cromer Pier, at a cost of £32,000. The pulling and sailing lifeboat Louisa Heartwell (ON 495) was retained as a No. 2 lifeboat.

A remarkable period of service would occur at Cromer between 1927 and 1941. No fewer than 37 RNLI Medals for gallantry were awarded, along with multiple awards from various governments and The Queen of The Netherlands.

21–22 November 1927, Dutch tanker Georgia, 1 x Gold, 12 x Bronze 17 February 1931, Fishing boat Welcome Home, 1 x Bronze 14–16 October 1932, Monte Nevoso of Genoa, 1 x Silver 13 December 1933, Barge Sepoy, 1 x Silver 9–10 October 1939, S.S. Mount Ida, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze 6–7 August 1941, 6 vessels in convoy, 1 x Gold, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze 26–27 October 1941, Steamship English Trader, 1 x Silver, 11 x Bronze (incl 1 posthumous) Cromer continued to operate two All-weather lifeboats until 1967, when the No. 2 boat was withdrawn. The lifeboat on station at the time, the 37-foot Oakley Mk I lifeboat 37-13 William Henry and Mary King (ON 980), was transferred first to Bridlington, and later to North Sunderland. The withdrawal of the second All-weather lifeboat saw the introduction of a new D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboat (ILB), (D-101). The 1902 boathouse is still the home of the Inshore boat.

Towards the end of the 1990s, it was decided that the 1923 pier boathouse had reached the end of its serviceable lifetime, especially in the face of the elements at the end of the pier. The structure was removed in two halves, and transported by sea along the coast to Southwold, where it was reassembled. It is now home to the Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum, its main exhibit being the 44-foot Norfolk and Suffolk-class (P&S) former Southwold lifeboat RNLB Alfred Corry (ON 353). The Cromer Pier boathouse was replaced between 1997 and 1999, costing approximately £3 million, funded by bequests and private donations.

During this period, the Ruby and Arthur Reed II was temporarily placed in the relief fleet, and a carriage launched Mersey-class lifeboat, 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189), was stationed on the shore next to the 1902 boathouse. In 2007, the Tyne-class lifeboat was withdrawn, and a new Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat assigned to the station. Modifications to the slipway were required, and a second carriage-launched Mersey-class lifeboat, 12-004 Royal Shipwright (ON 1162), was placed at Cromer for one year. The new Tamar-class lifeboat arrived on station in 2008. At a ceremony on 8 September, H.R.H The Duke of Kent named the lifeboat 16-07 Lester (ON 1287).

Station honours

The following are awards made at Cromer.

Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (EGM) Henry George Blogg – 1924 George Crossconverted from EGM Henry George Blogg – 1941 British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service Henry George Blogg GC, Coxswain – 1941 British Empire Medal for Gallantry Henry Thomas Davies, Coxswain – 1970 RNLI Gold Medal Henry George Blogg, Coxswain – 1917 Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1927 (Second-Service clasp) Henry George Blogg GC, Coxswain – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) RNLI Silver Medal Hon. Auberon Herbert – 1867 William Davies, Acting Second Coxswain - 1917 Private Stewart Holmes, 2/4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders – 1917 Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932 Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1934 (Second-Service clasp) Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1939 (Third-Service clasp) John James Davies, Second Coxswain – 1941 Henry George Blogg GC, Coxswain – 1941 (Fourth-Service clasp) RNLI Bronze Medal George Allen, crew member – 1917 James Allen, crew member – 1917 Edward Walter Allen, crew member – 1917 William Allen, crew member – 1917 Henry Balls, crew member – 1917 Charles Cox, crew member – 1917 George Cox, crew member – 1917 Leslie James Harrison, crew member – 1917 Tom Kirby, crew member – 1917 Gilbert Mayers, crew member – 1917 Walter Rix, crew member – 1917 William Rix, crew member – 1917 George Balls, Second Coxswain – 1927 John James Davies (Sr), Bowman – 1927 Robert Davies, Mechanic – 1927 William Thomas Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1927 Edward Walter Allen, crew member – 1927 (Second-Service clasp) Richard J. Baker, crew member – 1927 George Cox, crew member – 1927 Harry William Davies, crew member – 1927 James William Davies, crew member – 1927 John James Davies (Jr), crew member – 1927 Leslie James Harrison, crew member – 1927 (Second-Service clasp) Sidney Charles Harrison, crew member – 1927 John James Davies (Sr), Bowman – 1931 (Second-Service clasp) John Davies (Sr), Second Coxswain – 1939 (Third-Service clasp) Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1939 (Second-Service clasp) James William Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1939 (Second-Service clasp) Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) Leslie James Harrison, Second Coxswain – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) Harold V. Linder, Mechanic – 1941 John James Davies (Sr), Second Coxswain – 1941 (Fourth-Service clasp) Henry William Davies, Mechanic – 1941 (Fourth-Service clasp) James William Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) William Thomas Davies, Bowman – 1941 (Second-Service clasp) Edward Walter Allen, Signalman – 1941 (Third-Service clasp) (posthumous) Henry Thomas Davies, crew member – 1941 James Richard Davies, crew member – 1941 John James Davies (Jr), crew member – 1941 (Second-Service clasp) Robert C. Davies, crew member – 1941 William H. Davies, crew member – 1941 Sidney Charles Harrison, crew member – 1941 (Second-Service clasp) Dr Paul Stuart Barclay – 1974 Clive Richard Rayment, Helm – 1981 Richard William Davies, Coxswain – 1994 Medal service certificates Frank H. Muirhead, crew member – 1981 Christopher B. Craske, crew member – 1981 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Henry Thomas Davies BEM, Coxswain – 1974 R. W. Davies, crew member – 1974 Richard Davies, Coxswain – 1989 William Davies, Second Coxswain – 1998 Richard Davies, Coxswain – 1999 A Collective Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution R. W. Davies, Coxswain – 1991 W. T. Davies, Second Coxswain – 1991 R. J. Hannah, Mechanic – 1991 J. W. H. Jonas, Assistant Mechanic – 1991 P. Jefferies, crew member – 1991 P. Everitt, crew member – 1991 H. Balls, crew member – 1991 J. Howard, crew member – 1991 Silver Medal of the Canine Defence League Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932 Gold Watch, awarded by The Queen of The Netherlands Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1927 Silver watch, awarded by The Queen of The Netherlands Each of the other members of the lifeboat crew – 1927 Silver medal and a diploma awarded by The Italian Government Henry George Blogg EGM, Coxswain – 1932 Bronze medals and diploma awarded by The Italian Government Each of the other members of the lifeboat crew – 1932 French Maritime Cross, awarded by The French Government Henry Thomas Davies, Coxswain – 1948 Life-saving medal, awarded by The French Government Each of the other 11 members of the lifeboat crew – 1948 British Empire Medal Edwin Luckin, Boathouse Manager – 2023NYH

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Cromer lifeboat.

Died on 21 September 1918, after becoming paralysed whilst assisting the launch of the lifeboat H. F. Bailey (ON 670), on service to the Swedish vessel Fernebo on 9 January 1917. John Sharp, Driver Collapsed and died of heart failure shortly after being recovered to the lifeboat H. F. Bailey (ON 777), after five lifeboat crew, including Henry Blogg, were washed overboard, whilst on service to the steamship English Trader on 26–27 October 1941. Edward Walter Allen, Signalman (49) (Allen was posthumously awarded his third RNLI Bronze Medal).

Motor lifeboats (Cromer / Cromer No.1)

Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats (Cromer No.2)

When the station received its first motor lifeboat, a No.2 station was established located in the old boathouse. The station was closed in 1967, replaced with a D-class Inshore lifeboat.

See also

List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats