Station History
North Berwick is situated three miles west of the Bass Rock and was, in the nineteenth century, in addition to its busy fishing activity, an important harbour for the movement of grain from East Lothian and the import of guano from the Bass Rock. The building in which the lifeboat is now housed is the original boathouse built in 1860 which was relinquished in 1926 when the lifeboat was withdrawn due to the “decline of the fishing industry” and the consequent “lack of experienced manpower”. A lifeboat station was re-established in 1967 by the Blue Peter Pieces of Eight appeal. The boathouse used today was re-opened and restored to its former glory in 1991 when it was opened by the Duke of Athol on the 15th of November.
The Firth of Forth has been a busy thoroughfare for shipping for a long time, providing access to the important port of Leith and the many other ports and harbours of the estuary. At the entrance, the Firth of Forth is twelve miles wide with the May Island some four miles from the northern shore, and the Bass Rock one mile from the southern coast leaving a deep navigable channel of just under seven miles between which today carries in addition to general cargo-carrying ships, a heavy traffic of tankers servicing the oil terminals at Grangemouth and a passenger ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge.
In the early winter of 1859, two ships were wrecked in close proximity to North Berwick and in the case of one, loss of life was involved; there was no lifeboat stationed in the immediate area. Much concern was felt in the town and an approach was made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to establish a station and to provide a suitable boat. Agreement was reached, and a considerable amount of money was raised by the residents of East Lothian for the setting up and manning of the station.
The Firth of Forth has been a busy thoroughfare for shipping for a long time, providing access to the important port of Leith and the many other ports and harbours of the estuary. At the entrance, the Firth of Forth is twelve miles wide with the May Island some four miles from the northern shore, and the Bass Rock one mile from the southern coast leaving a deep navigable channel of just under seven miles between which today carries in addition to general cargo-carrying ships, a heavy traffic of tankers servicing the oil terminals at Grangemouth and a passenger ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge.
In the early winter of 1859, two ships were wrecked in close proximity to North Berwick and in the case of one, loss of life was involved; there was no lifeboat stationed in the immediate area. Much concern was felt in the town and an approach was made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to establish a station and to provide a suitable boat. Agreement was reached, and a considerable amount of money was raised by the residents of East Lothian for the setting up and manning of the station.
Boat History
Caroline
Late in 1860 a 6 oared single banked self-righting lifeboat, complete with full equipment and transporting carriage was supplied to North Berwick. The cost of the boat (£180) was donated by Messrs. Jaffray & Sons of London, this being the fourth he had donated to the Institution. She was named “Caroline” and gave service from 1860 until 1867 when she was reported as being unfit to continue. During this period she was launched four times and saved seven lives.
One incident occurred on the 20th of February 1865 when at daybreak, a small pilot boat was observed at anchor near Craigleith Island with seas breaking heavily all around her and the wind blowing at gale force from the North West; there was also a severe frost. The North Berwick Lifeboat was launched through very heavy surf and successfully brought ashore three pilots who had been exposed in their small open boat for 28 hours and were suffering from the effects of exposure.
Caroline II
At the end of her operational life, “Caroline” was replaced by a new 30 foot, 10 oared, self-righting Lifeboat which was also named “Caroline”. She remained in service from 1867 till 1871, was launched four times and saved fourteen lives.
On the 29th of October 1869 “Caroline II” attended the brig “Woolgast” which was observed to be in distress near the South Car Rocks (Seacliff) and succeeded in getting the vessel to safety. Two years later in the summer of 1871 when the brig “J C Howitz” of Rostock was driven onto the rocks in a gale, and very heavy seas, Caroline II took off the crew of eight men and landed them safely. In the autumn of the same year, in a strong North Easterly Gale, she rescued six men form the schooner “Astrea” of Konigsburg which was being driven towards the rocks off North Berwick.
Caroline
Late in 1860 a 6 oared single banked self-righting lifeboat, complete with full equipment and transporting carriage was supplied to North Berwick. The cost of the boat (£180) was donated by Messrs. Jaffray & Sons of London, this being the fourth he had donated to the Institution. She was named “Caroline” and gave service from 1860 until 1867 when she was reported as being unfit to continue. During this period she was launched four times and saved seven lives.
One incident occurred on the 20th of February 1865 when at daybreak, a small pilot boat was observed at anchor near Craigleith Island with seas breaking heavily all around her and the wind blowing at gale force from the North West; there was also a severe frost. The North Berwick Lifeboat was launched through very heavy surf and successfully brought ashore three pilots who had been exposed in their small open boat for 28 hours and were suffering from the effects of exposure.
Caroline II
At the end of her operational life, “Caroline” was replaced by a new 30 foot, 10 oared, self-righting Lifeboat which was also named “Caroline”. She remained in service from 1867 till 1871, was launched four times and saved fourteen lives.
On the 29th of October 1869 “Caroline II” attended the brig “Woolgast” which was observed to be in distress near the South Car Rocks (Seacliff) and succeeded in getting the vessel to safety. Two years later in the summer of 1871 when the brig “J C Howitz” of Rostock was driven onto the rocks in a gale, and very heavy seas, Caroline II took off the crew of eight men and landed them safely. In the autumn of the same year, in a strong North Easterly Gale, she rescued six men form the schooner “Astrea” of Konigsburg which was being driven towards the rocks off North Berwick.
Fergus Ferguson
The “Fergus Ferguson” replaced the “Freemason” in 1887 and was funded by a legacy from Mrs A Ferguson of Bolton. She was on station until 1902 and in the five year period was launched thirteen times, saving twenty-six lives. She was one of the newest lifeboats, 34 foot long, 7.5 foot wide, rowed ten oars double banked and was self-righting. She cost £371. In 1888 on the 29th of March she was launched to rescue the crew of eight from the schooner “Oberscrew” from Dychling, laden with esparto grass which was stranded on the rock at Seacliff point. A near gale was blowing in from the east, with a very rough sea and thick fog. On returning to the Harbour the tide was very low and the sea so heavy that the lifeboat had to lay off the west side of Craigleith Island throughout a very stormy night, during which it snowed heavily. It was not until 0530 the following morning that she was able to return to the safety of the harbour.
On the 19th of October 1891 the “Fergus Ferguson” was launched when a small boat was seen heading for the shore in very heavy seas. The Coastguard raised a flag to warn them not to attempt to land, and the lifeboat took off seven exhausted men, the crew of the steam trawler “Restless Wave” of Granton, which had foundered for miles off the May Island. The “Fergus Ferguson” was on service on the 27th of February 1900 going to the assistance of the barge “Val Halla” When, in heavy seas, a crew member was washed overboard, but fortunately was recovered safely.
Norman Clark
In 1902 the “Fergus Ferguson” was replace by a new boat, provided by a legacy from Mr Norman Clark of Netherhill, Paisley and named after him. She was self-righting, 35 foot long, 8.5 foot wide and cost £820. She served the station until 1920 and during her service was launched 13 times, saving 26 lives.
Two examples of her service follow: On the 26th of November 1913, a distress signal was seen two miles North East of Scoughall and the “Norman Clark” was launched in response. After a search she located the ketch “Triumph” of Jersey in a leaking condition and with all her canvas blown away. A whole south Westerly gale was blowing, and with a heavy sea running the Lifeboat rescued the three man crew and the headed for Dunbar, as returning to North Berwick would have necessitated a long beat back in very bad conditions. The lifeboat returned to Station the following day. On Christmas Eve a year later the Coastguard reported a vessel flying a distress flag ashore on Aberlady Sands. The “Norman Clark” was launched to investigate and found the schooner “Rosendal” of Hull bound from Charlestown with a cargo of road metal. The “Norman Clark” stood by as the tide receded thereby allowing the crew to scramble ashore to safety, the schooner becoming a total wreck.
When the “Norman Clark” was withdrawn from service in 1920 a temporary lifeboat was put on station for a year. This was replace by the “John William Dudley” from the reserve fleet which attended the stranded SS “Thistlemore” on the 26th August 1922 and was in turn replaced by the “Elizabeth Moore Graden” in 1923, a gift from the family of the deceased Mr R J Garden. She remained on station until 1625 when the North Berwick Lifeboat Station was closed and the Boat withdrawn.
Between 1920 and the closing of the station in 1925 the lifeboats were launched only once with no lives being claimed as saved.
The “Fergus Ferguson” replaced the “Freemason” in 1887 and was funded by a legacy from Mrs A Ferguson of Bolton. She was on station until 1902 and in the five year period was launched thirteen times, saving twenty-six lives. She was one of the newest lifeboats, 34 foot long, 7.5 foot wide, rowed ten oars double banked and was self-righting. She cost £371. In 1888 on the 29th of March she was launched to rescue the crew of eight from the schooner “Oberscrew” from Dychling, laden with esparto grass which was stranded on the rock at Seacliff point. A near gale was blowing in from the east, with a very rough sea and thick fog. On returning to the Harbour the tide was very low and the sea so heavy that the lifeboat had to lay off the west side of Craigleith Island throughout a very stormy night, during which it snowed heavily. It was not until 0530 the following morning that she was able to return to the safety of the harbour.
On the 19th of October 1891 the “Fergus Ferguson” was launched when a small boat was seen heading for the shore in very heavy seas. The Coastguard raised a flag to warn them not to attempt to land, and the lifeboat took off seven exhausted men, the crew of the steam trawler “Restless Wave” of Granton, which had foundered for miles off the May Island. The “Fergus Ferguson” was on service on the 27th of February 1900 going to the assistance of the barge “Val Halla” When, in heavy seas, a crew member was washed overboard, but fortunately was recovered safely.
Norman Clark
In 1902 the “Fergus Ferguson” was replace by a new boat, provided by a legacy from Mr Norman Clark of Netherhill, Paisley and named after him. She was self-righting, 35 foot long, 8.5 foot wide and cost £820. She served the station until 1920 and during her service was launched 13 times, saving 26 lives.
Two examples of her service follow: On the 26th of November 1913, a distress signal was seen two miles North East of Scoughall and the “Norman Clark” was launched in response. After a search she located the ketch “Triumph” of Jersey in a leaking condition and with all her canvas blown away. A whole south Westerly gale was blowing, and with a heavy sea running the Lifeboat rescued the three man crew and the headed for Dunbar, as returning to North Berwick would have necessitated a long beat back in very bad conditions. The lifeboat returned to Station the following day. On Christmas Eve a year later the Coastguard reported a vessel flying a distress flag ashore on Aberlady Sands. The “Norman Clark” was launched to investigate and found the schooner “Rosendal” of Hull bound from Charlestown with a cargo of road metal. The “Norman Clark” stood by as the tide receded thereby allowing the crew to scramble ashore to safety, the schooner becoming a total wreck.
When the “Norman Clark” was withdrawn from service in 1920 a temporary lifeboat was put on station for a year. This was replace by the “John William Dudley” from the reserve fleet which attended the stranded SS “Thistlemore” on the 26th August 1922 and was in turn replaced by the “Elizabeth Moore Graden” in 1923, a gift from the family of the deceased Mr R J Garden. She remained on station until 1625 when the North Berwick Lifeboat Station was closed and the Boat withdrawn.
Between 1920 and the closing of the station in 1925 the lifeboats were launched only once with no lives being claimed as saved.
Inshore Lifeboat Station
The station was re-opened in 1967 and established as an Inshore Lifeboat Station. Operating out of the lower Granary store, now owned by East Lothian Yacht Club, the original boat house was restored in 1991 and is still used today.
Since 1967 the lifeboats stationed at North Berwick have all been funded by the Childrens BBC Program “Blue Peter” and their “Pieces of Eight” appeal. Blue Peter is the longest running children’s television programme in the world and has been supporting the RNLI since 1958. During this time, Blue Peter has held four fundraising appeals for the RNLI which has funded 28 lifeboats at stations around the UK.
North Berwick has had five Blue Peter Lifeboats; all named “Blue Peter III”.
The station was re-opened in 1967 and established as an Inshore Lifeboat Station. Operating out of the lower Granary store, now owned by East Lothian Yacht Club, the original boat house was restored in 1991 and is still used today.
Since 1967 the lifeboats stationed at North Berwick have all been funded by the Childrens BBC Program “Blue Peter” and their “Pieces of Eight” appeal. Blue Peter is the longest running children’s television programme in the world and has been supporting the RNLI since 1958. During this time, Blue Peter has held four fundraising appeals for the RNLI which has funded 28 lifeboats at stations around the UK.
North Berwick has had five Blue Peter Lifeboats; all named “Blue Peter III”.
| Lifeboat | Service | Launches | Lives Rescues |
| Blue Peter III, D-112 | 1967 - 1972 | 26 | 33 |
| Blue Peter III, D-216 | 1973 - 1984 | 37 | 27 |
| Blue Peter III, D-306 | 1985 - 1993 | 71 | 25 |
| Blue Peter III, D-452 | 1994 - 2004 | 114 | 135 |
| Blue Peter III, D-619 | 2005 - Present Day | 79+ | 57+ |
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