This twin screw, RNLI Liverpool class lifeboat was constructed in 1950, by the well-known lifeboat builders, Grovesand Guttridge, at West Cowes, Isle of Wight.
She was stationed at Arbroath in Scotland from 1950 to 1953, and capsized on 27 October 1953 on service, tragically with the loss of Coxswain David Bruce and five of her seven crew, two each from the Swankie and Cargillfamilies.
She was withdrawn from service, refitted by Grovesand Guttridge, and in 1955 was re-allocated to Girvan, in Scotland, where she served until 1960.
After this she was then re-allocated to Criccieth in Wales, where she served from 1960 to 1968.
In 1968 she was sold out of RNLI service and in 1969 was sold to a Devon owner, renamed Taupo and it is believed made pleasure trips. In 1986 she had just over a metre cropped from her stern to bring her down to the 30ft required by the then fishing regulations. At this conversion the engine canopy was removed and gifted to the Lowestoft Maritime Museum. She fished out of Lowestoft but in 1999 was sold and moved to Wells-next-the-Sea where she continued fishing until she was pensioned off due to her poor condition.
In 2005 she was put up for sale again and was eventually purchased by George Hewitt of Stiffkey, Norfolk. George and brother David are boat builders and outstanding shipwrights and for the last 4 years George, with help from David, has been restoring RNLBRobert Lindsay to as near original as possible – accepting that some parts are no longer available and others would cost a fortune to have manufactured, but some have been so made. After considerable negotiation over several years, the Lowestoft Maritime Museum agreed to sell the canopy for £500 so it is now back aboard ON 874 and being brought back to RNLI condition. It has always been George’s intention to own an ex-RNLI lifeboat and once ON 874 is restored he will retain ownership for his lifetime.
The original engines and spares have not been available for many years and as with many of this class of lifeboat they were re-engined with twin Perkins 4/107 diesel engines. A pair of these engines (actually virtually identical 4/108s) has been located and are currently being re-furbished at a cost of circa £2000.
An appeal fund has been launched by Mike Woodroffe, retired RNLI Deputy Chief of Operations, in the hope that donations will help defray these costs.
George Hewitt designed and builds the Norfolk Stiffkey Cockle sailing dinghy, and with more than 100 of these lovely little craft built, Cockle Club members, including Mike and Shelley Woodroffe were asked to donate to the appeal and as at the end of March 2009 over £1000 has already been raised. The appeal fund was started with a generous cheque from Keith Musto, the Olympic medallist, and the founder of the world famous company manufacturing leading edge clothing for yachtsmen and women, equestrian folk and those who enjoy shooting pursuits.
Other donations include one from Richard Freeman of Wells-next-the-Sea who built this website as a gift to the appeal fund.
George hopes by later this year ON 874 will be sufficiently up together to be launched and sea-trialled, but it will be while longer before the project is finished and she is “shipshape and Bristol fashion’.
For further information contact either
George Hewitt
Boat builder
Old Military Camp
Greenway
Stiffkey
Norfolk
Tel 01328830078
Email George Hewitt georgeandfenice@btinternet.com
