Happisburgh Lifeboat Station
Here are some photographs of the Atlantic 75 and the Tractor unit with the Crew
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Atlantic Crew undergoing training Click Piture for video of night trainingHappisburgh Lifeboat Station's recent history
25th January 2011
The crew of a gas rig helicopter transiting over the sea off Happisburgh this afternoon, 25th January 2011, spotted what they thought was an up-turned boat; they passed the information on to Yarmouth Coastguard.
Happisburgh’s Atlantic Lifeboat, Friendly Forester II, was called out at 1450 hrs and proceded to the position reported by the helicopter, with Tim Grimmer at the helm, Cubitt Siely and Ross Scannell as crew.
Arriving shortly after being called, there was nothing to be seen, so the Lifeboat started a search from Happisburgh Church to the Sea Palling Reefs, one and a half miles off shore.
Sea Palling Lifeboat was also called out to search the Reefs off their station.
At 1515hrs the Coastguard requested the launch of the Station’s D-Class Lifeboat, the Spirit of Berkhamsted, to search the shore-line from Happisburgh to North Reef, Sea Palling, with Matt Bales at the helm Lee Wilkins and Andy Goldsmith as Crew.
All three Lifeboats worked together to thoroughly search the area. After more than one and a half hours of searching the Coastguard were satisfied that there was nothing to be found and with no boats reported missing the search was called off. The Coastguard thought that the sighting may have been a whale.
Both Happisburgh’s boats returned to station with the D-Class arriving at 1630hrs, the Atlantic at 1650hrs after a ‘net’ recovery, due to the weather conditions. The boats were refuelled and made ready for the next service.
The RNLI are there to save lives at sea, we also like to prevent people from putting themselves in danger.
In December 2002 Happisburgh Lifeboat Station was devastated by the loss of the launching ramp at their Town Gap Station due to massive coastal erosion. The Station worked hard to keep the Station fully operational; we had to transport the boat by road to Cart Gap to launch the boat. Within a month the RNLI had provide the Station with two containers at Cart Gap, with the help of North Norfolk district council - one for the boat and tractor, the other for crew and equipment. After the RNLI’s coastal review in 2008 it was decided there was a need for an Atlantic class lifeboat at Happisburgh, so after feasibility trials plans were put in place to upgrade the Ramp at Cart Gap to accommodate the larger boat and launch equipment.
Mrs L.M. Langston & Family visiting the New Ramp
Work started in December 2008. First the old wood ramp was removed, again the station had to move their launching point to the next ramp south of the station then by March 2009 the new ramp had been completed. The cost of the ramp came in part from a generous donation from Mrs J M Langston and family. Mrs. Joan Margaret Langston, a lady with a love of lifeboats , left over £280,000 in her will to the RNLI and when she died in February 2008 her niece Mrs. Wendy Judd stipulated that the money go towards a specific project. As both Mrs. Langston and her husband, used to love visiting lifeboat stations particularly those in Norfolk, it was fitting that her legacy went towards funding a new ramp at Happisburgh.
In 2009 a new access ramp, costing £350,000, was built at Happisburgh to ensure that the Atlantic 75 lifeboat would be able to safely launch. The ramp measures seven metres wide by 40 metres long. It replaced the old ramp which was part of the sea wall and only had a 1.5 inch clearance either side. A review of the cover had meant that there was a need for a larger Atlantic 75 lifeboat to work in tandem with the D class.
Happisburgh RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Cedric Cox said: ‘Thanks to Mrs Langston’s donation we have a new ramp at Happisburgh station and this means we can have an Atlantic 75 lifeboat stationed here, working alongside our “D” class lifeboat. Overall this has ensured that the lifeboat coverage for this area has improved by up to 30 miles off the coast.
‘The ramp has not only benefitted the station, but all the emergency services and council now have better access to the beach. Plus the general public also has good and safe access to the beach as well.’
Mrs. Judd said: ‘My aunt and uncle spent many years visiting lifeboat stations along the Norfolk coast and especially loved Sheringham. After her husband died, my aunt came to live with us in Great Yarmouth. Although Sheringham was fully funded, a nearby station - Happisburgh - did need some investment so I know that my aunt would have been pleased that that they benefited from her legacy.’
The crew and Station all worked hard to get trained and ready for the arrival of the Atlantic Class lifeboat on its two year trial. In April 2009 the Friendly Forester II went into service alongside the Spirit of Berkhamsted, the Station’s D class lifeboat. Another two containers were used to house the boat and tractor.
Planning consent was granted by North Norfolk District Council for a Boat Hall for both boats and crew accommodation, work was started in September 2010, first to be completed was crew accommodation costing £52,913, followed by the Boat Hall costing £95,116; the cost for the building came from RNLI central funds.
At the beginning of December 2010 the Station was informed that the RNLI were satisfied with the trial of the Atlantic and they made it permanent, making Happisburgh Lifeboat Station a two-boat Station.
On Sunday 12th December 2010 the Station held an Open Afternoon to say a big thank you to all our supporters, and for them to view the new Station and be shown around by the crew. Happisbough Lifeboat Station is grateful for the faith the RNLI has given them which means they now have an opportunity to operate these Lifeboats and can continue to cover the coast for those in trouble at sea 24hrs a day 365 days a year.
The Atlantic tries the old ramp
The new ramp under construction
The Atlantic with the new tractor unit
Recovering Spirit of Berkhamsted on the New Ramp
The Shore Crew and the Atlantic Crew