Caister Lifeboat - 40 Years of Independence!
Caister Lifeboat

Bernard Matthews

Bernard Matthews LifeboatThe Bernard Matthews has been the busiest lifeboat ever on the station, carrying out many remarkable rescues. The sad epic on the 8th - 9th December 1993 truly demonstrated why Caister has the motto "Caister Men Never Turn Back", but whilst no one was saved the letter from the commander of HMS Nottingham is clear.

On the 1st October 1995 the yacht "Sequina" was aground on the Scroby Sands in a force 7 gale. Dick Thurlow and the crew plucked 4 people from the capsized vessel. This was after the previous Sunday the crew had rescued 9 people aboard the Dutch yacht "Madame".

Another heroic rescue took place on the 27th July 2000, when the Caister lifeboat provided assistance to the yacht ZIPPA

Recently the CVRS changed its title to CVLS - Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service a more appropriate name for the organistaion.

Bernard Matthews, entering service in 1991Once again time has caught up with the lifeboat, The Bernard Matthews, though still a superb sea boat ideal for the conditions offshore Caister, now design & technology has advanced apace since the mid 80s when the boat was designed.

Today water jets have replaced propellers. Therefore the officers of the Caister Lifeboat have been for the last 18 months evaluating a replacement for the present vessel, and have concluded following exhaustive tests that the Dutch KNRM have the lifeboat for the job, perfectly suiting the needs of the station in future.

Bernard Matthews Lifeboat Specification
Years on station August 1991 - 2004
Donor Local Appeal and generous donation by Bernard Matthews
Cost £400,000 approx
Official Number 38-01
Type Lochin
Year Built 1990
Builder Lochin Marine, Rye; fitted out by Goodchilde Marine Services, Burgh Castle
Dimensions Length 38ft 6in, breadth 10ft 8in
Engines Twin 282hp Ford Sabre diesels, speed 18 knots
Disposal Sold to Blyth Valley Lifeboat Service, renamed Spirit of Blyth and Wansbeck

 


Latest News

05/02/12  Dauntless off to the Falklands
HMS Dauntless, the Navy's newest and most formidable warship has...

31/01/12  New Rib Craft Lifeboat on order
Our present inshore lifeboat has sadly come to the end of its...

Latest Shouts

15/12/11  Kayak Rescue
At 1046 HM Yarmouth Coastguard called the coxswain to launch the ALB...

14/09/11  Dinghy off Hemsby
The ILB was launched within 5 mins of the call out to a Dinghy with a...

13/09/11  Young Woman in Trouble
The ILB was launched at approximately 13.55 to a young Woman in...

01/09/11  Barge With Total Power Failure
Caister ALB was tasked to launch and assist the Gorleston ILB...


The Lifeboat Station, Tan lane, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk NR30 5DJ