Poole History
Between 1824 and 1853 one Gold Medal and four Silver Medals were awarded for Gallantry.
1865 An RNLI lifeboat station was established and the boathouse was built at Sandbanks. The crew had to be taken to the station by coach from the Antelope Hotel in the High Street.
1868 Silver Medals were awarded to The Right Hon The Viscount Bury MP and Mr Charles Pride for saving one man from the capsized fishing boat Alarm.
1882 A new boathouse was built at the north end of Poole Quay at Fisherman’s Dock.
A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Richard Stokes for ‘gallant services’ over 15 years.
1884 Crew Member James Hughes was killed when he fell in front of the lifeboat carriage.
1897 A new slipway was built.
1906 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Coxswain Richard Wills and Crew Members Thomas Wills, John Wills, Richard Cartridge, and Henry Russell for rescuing two men from a capsized fishing vessel.
1939 The motor lifeboat Thomas Kirk Wright arrived at the station.
1940 The Thomas Kirk Wright was one of 19 lifeboats that took part in the evacuation of British Forces from Dunkirk.
1964 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a D class lifeboat.
1965 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1969 A Dell Quay Dory (17-003) was sent to the station.
1970 The D class lifeboat was withdrawn.
1974 The lifeboat station was moved to Poole Harbour Yacht Club at Lilliput Marina.
1975 The old lifeboat station at Fisherman's Dock became a lifeboat museum and displays the Thomas Kirk Wright.
1983 The Brede class lifeboat Inner Wheel was placed on service.
1985 The Dell Quay Dory was withdrawn and replaced with an A class Boston Whaler lifeboat.
1986 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Crew Members David Coles, Steven Vince and Raymond Collin for rescuing two children from marshland.
1989 The lifeboat station was moved to the Town Quay, next to Poole Bridge.
1990 An extension was built, providing improved crew facilities and a fuel and oil store.
1994 The A class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat, which was kept in a floating boathouse.
1995 Framed Letters of Thanks were presented to Coxswain Steve Vince and Crew Members Robert Doak and Geoffrey Langley for a service to the yacht Bloodhound.
A new Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-710 Friendly Forester II, was placed on service. This lifeboat was provided by a generous gift from the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society in memory of Nora Gladys Green.
2001 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Helmsman Gavin McGuinness and Crew Members Anne Millman and Paul Savage for a service to four dinghies caught by a strong ebb tide and pinned against the chain ferry’s side. Second Coxswain Mark Cole received an individual Letter of Appreciation and the crew of the Brede class lifeboat received a collective Letter of Appreciation.
The Tyne class lifeboat, ON-1131 City of Sheffield, arrived at the station in September. The Brede class lifeboat was withdrawn, changing the station to an all weather lifeboat station.
Station honours
At Poole lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 6
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 8
Silver Medal 7
Gold Medal 1
