St Helier Lifeboat Station
RNLI lifeboat station on Jersey, Channel Islands

St Helier Lifeboat Station
St Helier Lifeboat Station
St Helier Lifeboat Station is located in Channel Islands
St Helier Lifeboat Station
St Helier, Jersey, Channel Is.
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationAlbert Quay, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, JE2 3NE
Coordinates49°10′50.4″N 2°06′46.9″W / 49.180667°N 2.113028°W / 49.180667; -2.113028
Opened
  • States of Jersey 1830–1884
  • RNLI 1884–Present
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
St Helier RNLI Lifeboat Station

St Helier Lifeboat Station is located at St Helier, capital of the Bailiwick of Jersey, and main port of the island of Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency and largest of the Channel Islands.

A lifeboat was first stationed at St Helier by the States of Jersey in 1830. Management of the station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1884.[1][2]

The station currently operates an Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, 16-12 George Sullivan (ON 1292), and a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, The Spirit of St Helier (B-934).[3]

History

In January 1825, just after the founding of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), the cutter Fanny, on passage to Jersey from St Malo, ran aground and was wrecked near Elizabeth Castle. Rescuers managed to save 13 of the 18 passengers and crew, and three Gold Medals, and a Silver Medal were awarded to their rescuers.[4][5]

Three years later, a second boat named Fanny, of St Malo, with the same Master, Captain Destouches, ran aground on rocks 1 mile (1.6 km) from St Helier, and 13 lost their lives. This would finally prompt John Le Couteur to raise the matter of a Lifeboat with the States of Jersey, suggesting that two boats be provided. For his efforts, £150 was granted by the States, that would provide just one lifeboat, a carriage and boathouse. A lifeboat was constructed at Rozel of Trinity by Mr Lillington of Weymouth, and a boathouse was built at Havre des Pas. Jersey would have a lifeboat station in 1830.[1]

No service records have been found for the 1830 lifeboat. But it is known that by 1861, the boat was unfit for purpose. A letter was sent to the RNLI by Philip De St Croix requesting that a new lifeboat and carriage be supplied, which was funded by the States of Jersey. The lifeboat was constructed by Forrestt of Limehouse, and tested on the Regent's Canal. The boat, equipment and carriage, constructed by Robinson of Camden Town, were then transported to Jersey free of charge by the Cheesewright and Miskin Steam Packet Company, arriving in November 1861.[1]

On 2 November 1872, the Isabella Northcote was wrecked on the Écréhous rock. Two farmers and a labourer set out in a small boat, and saved 18 people. They were each awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.[4][6]

In 1884, the RNLI station at Alderney was closed after operating for just 15 years, as there were difficulties in maintaining a crew. The closure came at the same time that the existing Jersey States lifeboat had become unfit for service. The offer of a replacement lifeboat from the RNLI was readily accepted, and a site near the Picket House at West Park (now People's Park) was provided, where a new boathouse was constructed at a cost of £385. A local management committee was formed, with Philip Baudins, Constable of St Helier, being appointed Honorary Secretary. The Alderney life-boat Mary and Victoria was transferred to St Helier in April 1884.[1][7]

Mary and Victoria was never called in 15 years on service at Alderney, and as possibly the most underused lifeboat, she would also never be called in the next four years on service at St Helier. She was replaced in 1888 by one of three lifeboats funded from the bequest of the late Col. E. A. D. Brooshoft, of Kirk Ella, near Kingston upon Hull, the 34-foot lifeboat Sarah Brooshoft, Kirk Ella (ON 153).[1][8]

1896 St Helier Lifeboat House

Improvements to the Jersey promenade in 1896 required the West Park lifeboat house to be relocated. It was reconstructed on St Helier harbour, near South Pier, with a door at both ends, allowing the carriage and lifeboat to be accessed for transportation elsewhere should it be required. In 1912, the slipway was extended. The boathouse is used today by the Jersey Rowing Club.[1]

In 1906, Jersey RNLI lifeboat would finally perform its first service, recovering three workmen by Breeches buoy, after they were stranded overnight on Demie de Pas lighthouse when the weather turned.[1]

In 1929, a motor-powered lifeboat was placed at St Peter Port, Guernsey. At a meeting of the RNLI and the local Jersey branch, it was agreed that there was no longer a need for a lifeboat in Jersey, and the lifeboat was to be withdrawn. This was never actioned. St Helier would get their first motor-powered lifeboat, the Howard D (ON 797), a single engine Liverpool-class lifeboat, in 1937[1][9]

Just a few days before the German invasion of Jersey in 1940, a last minute attempt was made to remove the lifeboat to England. The Guernsey relief lifeboat Alfred and Clara Heath (ON 672) was dispatched to collect the Jersey lifeboat, and tow it to the Isle of Wight, but on passage to Jersey, it was strafed by German aircraft and Harold Hobbs, son of the Coxswain Fred Hobbs, was killed. The attempt was ultimately abandoned, and the Guernsey lifeboat was allowed to return to Guernsey. Under German control for the next five years, it was later found that the St Helier lifeboat had been launched a number of times during the war, with the crew under German guard, and had saved 35 lives.[10][11]

Tyne-class lifeboat 47-039 Alexander Coutanche (ON 1157)

On 13 September 1949. the 45-foot Watson relief lifeboat Hearts of Oak (ON 684) was launched to find a French aircraft. After 8 hours in rough seas, and with nothing found, the lifeboat was redirected to the aid of the yacht Maurice George. The yacht and four lives were saved. Coxswain Thomas James King was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal, with the rest of the crew being awarded bronze medals.[4]

The Tyne-class lifeboat 47-039 Alexander Countanche (ON 1157) was placed on service in 1989. Coxswain Robert Vezier received the "Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum" for his role when the lifeboat was involved in Jersey's biggest maritime disaster, a multi-agency rescue of 307 people from the French passenger catamaran Saint Malo, which holed and starting to sink after hitting an object off the Corbiere lighthouse.[12][13]

On 17 November 2017, a breakdown in relations between the RNLI and the Jersey Lifeboat Crew prompted the temporary removal from the island, of the Tamar-class lifeboat 16-12 George Sullivan (ON 1292). All Jersey lifeboat crew were stood down or resigned.[14] Former crew members went on to form the independent lifeboat service Jersey Lifeboat Association, and currently operate a former RNLI lifeboat 47-018 Max Aitken III (ON 1126), now renamed Sir Max Aitken III.[15][16]

The George Sullivan was returned to the Island on 5 December 2017, with full service resumed in March 2018, after further training of new crew.[17]

On Monday 18 November 2024, a service of dedication was held at Jersey lifeboat station, to formally unveil a mural depicting former coxswain Thomas James King, painted on the side of the station building. The mural was commissioned to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the RNLI. Lifeboat operations manager Nigel Sweeny said: "The mural is a very visible commemoration of a decorated lifeboatman and will serve to remind us of all those volunteers who have come before us."[18]

It was announced by the RNLI on 2 October 2025, that following a strategic review of resources across the entire service, the three lifeboat stations in the Channel Islands, Alderney, St Peter Port in Guernsey and St Helier, would each be assigned a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat over the following three years, replacing the Trent-class, Severn-class and Tamar-class lifeboats on station.[19]

Notable rescues

In 1949, Coxswain Thomas James King was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal, the Institutions highest award, for a double service. Returning towards home in poor conditions, in the reserve lifeboat Hearts of Oak (ON 684), after an six-hour search for a missing aircraft, the crew were tasked to the 10-tonne yacht Maurice Georges, which had run aground on the reef to the north-east of the Demie de Pas lighthouse. Risking an unfamiliar boat on the rocky shore, the Coxswain brought the lifeboat as close as possible to the yacht, managing to get a tow-line aboard, and pulled the vessel and three crew from likely catastrophe to safety. The lifeboat had been at sea for over nine hours. The seven lifeboat crew would each receive the RNLI Bronze Medal.[20]

Station honours

The following are awards made at St Helier, Jersey.[4][10]

Francis De St Croix – 1825
Jean De St Croix – 1825
Philip De St Croix – 1825
Thomas James King, Coxswain – 1949
Philip Nicholle – 1825
Charles Blampied, Farmer – 1872
John Bouchard, Labourer – 1872
Elias Whitley, Farmer – 1872
Edward Larbelestier, Coxswain – 1951
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1974
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1983 (Second-Service clasp)
Philip Boutell, crew member – 1949
Kenneth S. Gubbey, crew member – 1949
David Robert Talbot, crew member – 1949
Charles George King, crew member – 1949
Reginald John Nicholle, crew member – 1949
George Stapely, crew member – 1949
Lionel Percival Stevens, Honorary Secretary, crew member – 1949
Silver Harry Le Riche, Acting Coxswain – 1950
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1983
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
Edward Larbalestier, Coxswain – 1953
Eric Grandin, Coxswain – 1967
St Helier Lifeboat Crew – 1974
St Helier Lifeboat Crew – 1983
Robert Vezier, Coxswain – 1995
  • Letters of commendation signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Coxswain and Crew – 1964
Capt. Roy Malcolm Bullen – 1997QBH[21]

St Helier lifeboats

States of Jersey lifeboats

Name On station[1] Class Comments
Unnamed 1830–1861 A lifeboat
Unnamed 1861–1884 30-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) [Note 1]

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON[a] Name Built On station[22] Class Comments[23]
Pre-532 Mary and Victoria 1869 1884–1888 33-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) [Note 2]
Previously at Alderney.
153 Sarah Brooshoft, Kirk Ella 1887 1888–1910 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 3]
Previously Mary Isabella at Seaton Carew
370 Lily Bird 1894 1910–1912 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 4]
Reserve lifeboat No.5, previously at Dunwich and Aberystwyth.
625 William Henry Wilkinson 1911 1912–1937 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) [Note 5]
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

All-weather lifeboats

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built On station[24] Class Comments[25]
797 – Howard D 1937 1937–1948 Liverpool [Note 6]
865 – Elizabeth Rippon 1948 1948–1975 46-foot 9in Watson
1034 44-013 Thomas James King 1974 1975–1989 Waveney
1157 47-039 Alexander Coutanche 1989 1989–2009 Tyne
1292 16-12 George Sullivan 2009 2009– Tamar

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No.[b] Name On station[26] Class Comments
B-756 Eve Pank 2005–2007 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-816 David Page 2007–2022 B-class (Atlantic 85)
B-934 The Spirit of St Helier 2022– B-class (Atlantic 85)
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 30-foot x 7-foot (8-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
  2. ^ 33-foot x 8-foot 7in (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Earl of Strafford, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £276 when new.
  3. ^ 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Col. E. A. D. Brooshoft of Kirk Ella, Yorkshire, built by Watkins & Co. of Blackwall, London, costing £409 when new.
  4. ^ 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr S. Bird of East Cowes, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £370 when new.
  5. ^ 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Miss E. Wilkinson of Brixton, built by the Thames Ironworks, of Blackwall, London, costing £979.
  6. ^ Liverpool-class lifeboat, built by Saunders Roe, single 35 hp engine providing 7¼ knots, costing £3,623.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Moignard, Ian G. (1975). The History of Jersey's Lifeboats. Ashton & Denton Publishing Co. (C.I.) Ltd. pp. 1–84.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 119.
  3. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 128–129.
  4. ^ a b c d Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  5. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (5977). 15 January 1825.
  6. ^ "Rewards for Saving Life". Leeds Mercury. No. 11106. Leeds n. 13 November 1873.
  7. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XII (134): 441. 1 November 1884. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  8. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 22.
  9. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 48.
  10. ^ a b "St Helier's station history". St Helier Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  11. ^ "St Peter Port's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  12. ^ Boggan, Steve (6 September 1995). "Ferry captain who hit rocks 'risked 300 lives'". The Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  13. ^ "20 years on: Recalling the Channiland ferry disaster". Jersey Evening Post. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  14. ^ Morris, Steven (17 November 2017). "RNLI recalls lifeboat from Jersey after dispute with crew". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  15. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 64–65.
  16. ^ "The Jersey Lifeboat Association". Vibrant Jersey. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  17. ^ "St Helier's all-weather lifeboat to return this afternoon". Bailiwick Express. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  18. ^ Thorpe, George (19 November 2024). "Mural of medal-winning RNLI coxswain dedicated". BBC News. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  19. ^ Caldwell, Amy (2 October 2025). "RNLI announce a new era of lifesaving in the Channel Islands". RNLI. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Maurice Georges". The Lifeboat. XXXII (352): 377–378. December 1949. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". London Gazette. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  22. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 14–40.
  23. ^ Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–88.
  24. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 48–71.
  25. ^ Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Lifeboats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–100.
  26. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 82–85.
  • St Helier RNLI Lifeboat Station
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