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Hendon's Forgotton Lifeboat
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The history of Sunderland Lifeboat station is unusual in that several lifeboats were once stationed simultaneously at different locations. Even today, the station is split between two sites - at North Dock Marina and Marine Walk at Roker. A look-back to the early 20th Century reveals that rationalisation of lifeboat operations is not necessarily a modern concept. In 1901, Sunderland had two lifeboat stations - at North Dock and the South Outlet, where the lifeboats, George Woofindin and Richard and Nellie Hodges were respectively based. Both were "pulling" (oar-propelled) craft. Another lifeboat was stationed at Whitburn.
Between November 11 and 14, that year, a fierce storm swept the North East coast,
leading to the loss of many ships and their crews. One such vessel was the
full-rigged French ship, Quillota, which was on passage from Nantes to North
Shields.
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Although lifeboatmen at South Outlet station were eager to launch their boat to rescue Quillota's crew, no tug skipper was prepared to tow them out in such conditions. In due course, the stranded ship foundered, with 17 of her crew of 21 (plus a pilot) being drowned. |
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Although earlier proposals to station a lifeboat at Hendon Beach had been shelved, the tragedy led directly to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) agreeing to base a third Sunderland lifeboat there. A boathouse, costing £420, was constructed at the corner of Halfway House Lane and Sea Beach Road (above what is now Hendon Promenade), with the new lifeboat arriving on station on December 15, 1902. Funded from a legacy of the late Mr J Bayliss of Ryde, Isle of Wight, the 10-oared self-righting vessel cost £592 and had been built by Thames Ironworks. On January 7, 1903, she was christened as John and Amy by Mrs Oliver, wife of Sunderland lifeboat stations' honorary secretary.John and Amy was manned by the coxswain and crew of the South Outlet station, but could only be launched during favourable tidal and weather conditions. It is, therefore, unsurprising that the South Outlet boat was the preferred option. Although close to the scenes of many earlier shipwrecks, Hendon Beach lifeboat was only launched on service once during her 10-year career; this being on October 19, 1908, when she went to assist the steamer, Abasoto, thought to be in distress near White Stones rocks. On July 11, 1912, following the introduction of the Wear's first motor lifeboat, it was decided to close the Hendon Beach station, with the South Outlet station following suit on October 12, that year. |