Irish Lifeboats

Irish Lifeboats are proud to support our friends across the water in Blyth where the the effort made by the local community to restart an all weather lifeboat service in such a short period of time was remarkable.

Blyth All Weather Lifeboat was founded following the decision by the RNLI to withdraw the all weather lifeboat from the station. The Trent class Windsor Runner (Civil Service No 42) left the station on 17 July 2004.

Following the withdrawl of the all weather lifeboat a great effort was made by the local community to raise funds to purchase an all weather lifeboat for Blyth.

In January 2005 following a successful £120,000 community fundraising appeal the new independent Blyth all weather lifeboat sailed into her new home.

 The new boat was bought from the independent lifeboat service in Caister, Norfolk. The 38ft former Caister boat, formerly known as Bernard Matthews was re-named Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck.

The 'Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck' began life as the 'Bernard Matthews' for the Caister Volunteer Rescue Service in 1991. Purpose built the new 38ft all weather lifeboat replaced the 'Shirley Jean Adye' a Liverpool Class Lifeboat Built in 1952. The new Caister boat was much faster than the liverpool class boat it replaced.

In 2004 the Dutch built ' Bernard Matthews II' arrived on Caister station. Following her withdrawl the 'Bernard Matthews' was sold to the Blyth Valley Lifeboat Service and renamed the 'Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck'.

The proud crew of the 'Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck'  Photo : Courtesy Blyth All Weather Lifeboat Fourm