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9 September 2010 Home >Forum >A History of the Plymouth Lifeboats

A History of the Plymouth Lifeboats

By Alan Salsbury ISBN 1 84114 275 1 Published in 2003 by Halsgrove, price £19.95 Large format (297x210cm) in hardback; 160 pages Foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnson

In general the format of this book follows that of the History of the Torbay Lifeboats by the same author which was reviewed in South West Soundings No.57-June 2003.

The book starts with the rescue of the crew of the East Indiaman Dutton in 1796 by Sir Edward Pellew. The second chapter describes the first two non RNLI lifeboats stationed in the area over the period 1803 to 1840, and also deals generally with the events leading up to the establishment of the RNLI in 1854. Subsequently each lifeboat is covered in a separate chapter, starting in 1862 with The Prince Consort, which is followed by four more open boats propelled by oars. The first engine powered boat, The Robert and Marcella Black, a 60 ft. Barnett Class...

Read the original book review here

Associated topics

A History of the Plymouth Lifeboats Derek Kitch 18/03/2010
..Stefan Kleine 20/9/2005 Raymond Wickham 18/03/2010

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Previous comments

Raymond Wickham
18/3/2010

Stefan. I live in Ireland and have family connections with the Robert and Marcella beck going back to 1952 . I would like to build a scale model and would like to obtain copies of plans or drawings. Any information of where to obtain these plans would be most welcome.
Ray Wickham
ps hope you installed Diesel Engines)

Donald Smith
15/8/2006

Regarding the Robert & Marcella Black, she left the station on 21st.March 1943 after being requisitioned by the Royal Navy. She was handed over to the RAF for Air Sea Rescue duties with No,70 ASRU at Reykjavik in Iceland. She also served briefly at Wick and in the Faeroes during this period. In February 1947, she was handed back to the RNLI.
RAF.MARINE CRAFT HISTORIAN

mick
29/4/2006

i need all any info on the watsons life boat 1943 i own this boat can you help please is name was [manchester and salford 29[xx1x]thanls mick

Alan Salsbury
8/1/2006

Regarding the above comment.
The Robert & Marcella Beck was built by J S White, Cowes I.O.W.having been laid-down in 1924. She arrived 'on station' at Plymouth on Thursday 1 June 1926. Her first Service Launch took place on Wednesday 12 January 1927 with her inauguration ceremony taking place during Plymouth Week on Tuesday 12 July 1927.
RNLI records place the lifeboat on station 1926 - 1943
Alan Salsbury

Stefan Kleine
20/9/2005

Perhaps i can help.The first engine driven Barnett class liveboat could not be on the RNLI Plymouth station since 1922. The Robert and Marcella Beck was build in 1927. I am the present owner of the boat and there are some original building plans and copys from 1927 wich still exist.
Greetings from Hamburg / Germany
Stefan Kleine