Littlehampton RNLI’s unique history celebrated in updated book
A popular book documenting the special connection that Littlehampton has with the RNLI has been reissued as a second edition.
Littlehampton Lifeboats An Illustrated History, by Nicholas Leach, was first published in 2017 to document the history of Littlehampton RNLI. Its second edition, which has just been released, has been extended to cover the past eight years with new images and exciting rescue stories.
Littlehampton has a long and very special relationship with the RNLI. The town’s first lifeboat station opened in 1894 and a 24-hour search and rescue service has been operated by local volunteers since the 1960s.
In 1967, Littlehampton famously became home to Blue Peter I, a lifeboat funded by viewers of the BBC children’s programme Blue Peter, following a high-profile fundraising appeal. A succession of lifeboats with the same name saved lives at sea at Littlehampton RNLI for 49 years, until the name was retired in 2016.
In addition, Littlehampton boatbuilder William Osborne was a major builder for the RNLI – building, fitting and maintaining countless lifeboats. The now retired Arun Class lifeboat (in operation from 1971-2008) was named after the River Arun where the boatbuilder was based.
Author Nicholas Leach said: ‘The latest edition of Littlehampton Lifeboats brings the story of the station right up to date. It contains a series of outstanding new images, the latest shouts and Littlehampton’s new inshore lifeboat, Spirit of Fidelity.
‘The revised and expanded volume also contains new and previously unpublished images of old Littlehampton lifeboats and some of the lifeboats built in Littlehampton by the famous William Osborne boatyard. This full-colour, 132-page book is a must for anyone in the town and those with an interest in the work of the RNLI,’ he added.
Nick White, Littlehampton RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘We’ve always been proud of the special connection that Littlehampton has with the RNLI. Our history has been brought right up to the present day by the new edition of Littlehampton Lifeboats - a history that wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of everyone in Littlehampton. We thank you.
'We would also like to offer a special thanks to Nicholas Leach, who wrote the original edition of our book, and this updated second edition. Nicholas has a huge knowledge of lifeboats and their history, and his expertise is behind much of the detail of the story that this book tells.’
Littlehampton Lifeboats An Illustrated History, by Nicholas Leach, is out now. It’s available to buy for £12.00 from the shop at Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station. The shop is open 10.00am-4.00pm daily.
ENDS
RNLI media contacts
Beth Brooks, Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI
07544 209256 [email protected]
Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager, SE & London
07724 801305 [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.