Brighton History
1824 The lifeboat station was established and a cave was adapted for use as a boathouse until 1837.
A Silver Medal was awarded to Charles Watts for rescuing three people from a Brighton pleasure boat.
1838 A Silver Medal was awarded to Lieut E Franklin RN for rescuing eight people from the rigging of the brigantine Friends.
1839 A Silver Medal was awarded to Lieut G Franklyn RN for rescuing six people from the brigantine Zebra.
1840 A Gold Medal was awarded to Captain Digby Marsh RN and Silver Medals to Lieut N Newman RN and Lieut T H Prior RN for rescuing 22 people from the brigantines Mary and Offerton, and the schooner Sir John Seale.
1860 A helper was killed by the carriage during a launch.
1886 The lifeboat moved to a new site in two arches under the Western Esplanade.
1928 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1931 When the motor lifeboat arrived at Shoreham the station at Brighton closed.
1965 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) was established with a D class lifeboat.
1967 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to G Wheeler, P Avey and E C Newman when five people from a rubber dinghy were saved.
1974 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn for the winter.
1975–77
The station closed temporarily until marina facilities became available.
1978 The station became fully operational.
1986 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Alan Young and Crew Members Roger Cohen and Stanley Todd for rescuing three crew from the yacht Asterionella in extremely hazardous conditions. The ILB capsized three times during this service.
1996 A Silver Medal was awarded to Helmsman Richard Pearce and Bronze Medals to Crew Members Martin Ebdell and Edward Purches for a service in very rough seas and a heavy breaking surf on 7–8 September 1995 when they rescued two young women clinging to the supports beneath Brighton Palace Pier. A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Brighton lifeboat station recognising the role played by the station as a whole. Framed Letters of Thanks were also awarded to Auxiliary Coastguard Mr Peter Apps and Mr Nick Gilbert for their help on the beach.
The lifeboat crew were also awarded The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award for the most meritorious service performed by an Atlantic 21 B class lifeboat during 1995 and The Maud Smith Bequest for the most outstanding act of lifesaving was awarded to Helmsman Richard Pearce.
1997 A new Atlantic 75 lifeboat was placed on service.
On 18 November the Atlantic 75 lifeboat was caught by a large breaking sea when it capsized. One crew member was thrown clear and was winched to safety by a Coastguard helicopter. The remaining crew managed to right the lifeboat but it capsized again and the boat and crew were washed ashore. Fortunately no one was seriously injured and the boat was recovered.
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Mark Smith and Crew Member Mark Hayes and Framed Letters of Thanks to Crew Members Berenice McCall and Anthony Parsons for a service to a man overboard from the yacht Xanadu on 7 December.
1998 The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award for the most meritorious service performed by a B class lifeboat during 1997 was awarded to Helmsman Mark Smith and Crew Member Mark Hayes for the service on 7 December.
2000 A new shore facility was completed.
Station honours
At Brighton lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 8
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 5
Bronze Medal 2
Silver Medal 6
Gold Medal 1
