Scarborough Lifeboat Station

Established1801

RNLI From1861

Gallantry Medals17

StatusActive 24/7

All-Weather Lifeboat	Shannon Class 13-15 Frederick William Plaxton (ON 1322)
Inshore Lifeboat	D Class John Wesley Hillard IV (D-856)
Launch Method	Carriage
Address	West Pier, Foreshore Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1PB
Telephone	01723 360520

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RNLI Station Histories Guidebook

Explore two centuries of RNLI lifeboat history, heroic rescues, and the enduring tradition of saving lives at sea.

A lifeboat has served Scarborough since 1801, making it the third-oldest operational station in the United Kingdom, after Montrose and Sunderland. Run by the RNLI from 1861, it operates today from a 2016 station at West Pier with a Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat and a D-class inshore lifeboat.

Scarborough’s first lifeboat, built to Greathead’s design and funded by public subscription, made its first service in November 1801 to the Aurora in Scarborough Bay. Management passed to the RNLI in 1861.

A new lifeboat house was later built near the west pier, where the station’s modern lifeboathouse opened on 27 November 2016.

2 November 1861

The schooner Coupland

On her first service launch, the new lifeboat Amelia was dashed against the Spa Wall while trying to reach the schooner Coupland, wrecked in the South Bay. Two of her crew, John Burton and Thomas Brewster, and three spectators — Lord Charles Beauclerk, W Tindall and J Iles — lost their lives attempting to save others.

October 1880

Five launches in a day

Coxswain John Owston — who served 41 years and helped save some 230 lives — won the Silver Medal when, over 24 hours of very heavy weather, the lifeboat launched five times and rescued all 28 lives in danger.

8 December 1954

Loss of the E.C.J.R.

Launched into a sudden south-easterly gale to escort the fishing fleet home, the self-righting lifeboat E.C.J.R. had brought in boat after boat when, near the harbour entrance, two huge seas struck her broadside and she capsized. She righted herself, but three of her crew of eight were lost — Coxswain John Sheader, Second Coxswain John Cammish and Signalman Frank Bayes.

The town has also known tragedy: the second Scarborough lifeboat, built in 1822, capsized with the loss of ten of her crew.

Scarborough’s crews have received many awards over two centuries; the RNLI cites around 35 awards and recognition for gallantry. The documented Silver Medals below are confirmed; and the headline figure also includes Thanks on Vellum.

Recipient	Award	Year	Service
Henry Wyrill	Silver Medal	1856	Brigantine Elizabeth of Sunderland
Coxswain John Owston	Silver Medal	1880	Five launches; 28 lives saved
James Fowler	Silver Medal	1924	Ship Hebe of Sunderland
Smith Tindall	Silver Medal	1924	Ship Hebe of Sunderland
Coxswain Thomas Clayburn	Silver Medal	1928	Ship Centurion, wrecked at Osgodby

* Summary data includes only verifiable awards and distinctions

The RNLI publishes an up-to-date record of this station's recent service launches on its official website, including dates, lifeboats involved and a summary of each call-out. View the latest launches directly on RNLI.org:

View recent launches on RNLI.org

Opens the official RNLI station page in a new tab.

The schooner Coupland

Five launches in a day

Loss of the E.C.J.R.

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