| THE J. McCONNEL HUSSEY FOLKESTONE, KENT | |
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| The Official Launching of J. McConnel Hussey 25 July 1894 | |
THE HISTORY OF THE FOLKESTONE LIFEBOATS |
| THE J. McCONNEL HUSSEY FOLKESTONE, KENT | |
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| The Official Launching of J. McConnel Hussey 25 July 1894 | |
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FOLKESTONE. — The ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has formed a Lifeboat station at Folkestone, in accordance with the wishes of the local residents, as an additional safeguard for life-saying purposes for that part of the coast, the adjacent Life-boats being Dover on the east and Hythe on the west, and there being considerable steamboat and other traffic in and out of Folkestone Harbour. The Life-boat provided is 38 feet long, 8 feet wide, and rows 12 oars double-banked; it is fitted with three water-ballast tanks, provided with plugs and pumps, by means of which water can be readily admitted or pumped out; it also possesses the latest improvements, with all the other characteristics of the boats of the Institution in the way of self-righting, self-ejecting water, etc. Like all the modern self-righting Life-boats built by the Institution, this boat will promptly self-right if capsized with all the crew and gear in, masts up and sails set. It is furnished with a transporting and launching carriage well suited to the purpose, and a commodious house has been erected for their reception on the beach near the New Pier. The cost of the boat, carriage and equipment has been defrayed by Miss CURLING, of Denmark Hill, London, and as desired by her the boat is named the J. McConnel Hussey.
On the 25th July last the formal inauguration of the new Life-boat establishment took place in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The Mayor and Corporation and the invited guests assembled at the Town Hall, and proceeded thence to the beach adjoining the Lifeboat house. The Mayor wore his chain of office, and the Town Sergeant his gorgeous Louis XIV uniform, and carried the ponderous mace. The Vicar of Folkestone, with his curates in their robes, the organist and choirmaster of the parish church, and the choir, all in their surplices, were stationed at the bow of the boat, and the Corporation and officials gathered round her.
In the course of his opening remarks, the Mayor referred in terms of gratitude to the munificent gift received from Miss CURLING, and regretted that the state of her health precluded her from being present on that auspicious occasion. In her name he handed over the boat to the District Inspector of Life-boats, Commander T. HOLMES, R.N., as representing the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and expressed the hope that it would be a great success, although he trusted that it would be many years before it would be wanted. If it should be, he felt sure that the brave men who formed the crew would do their utmost to save any lives which might be in danger (applause). The gift was acknowledged in suitable terms by the District Inspector, who then transferred the boat to the care of the Col. STEPHEN PENFOLD, J.P., undertook that it should be found efficient in time of need. Miss VAUGHAN, the daughter of the Mayor, then performed the naming ceremony, after which a religious service was conducted by the Rev. Canon WOODWARD. The appropriate hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save," was sung with striking effect by the choir and the assembled spectators, and the benediction concluded the service.
At a given signal the rope which held the boat was loosened and she glided smoothly and quickly into the waves, as shown in the annexed illustration, amidst ringing cheers, while several rockets were fired, and the band of the Scots Fusiliers played "Rule Britannia" and other appropriate airs. The pier and the beach were gaily decorated with flags, and quite a fleet of boats were on the sea waiting for the Life-boat to join them. In the evening the Life-boat crew were entertained at the Albany Restaurant. The Mayor also invited the members of the Corporation and several of his friends to a private dinner at the Pavilion Hotel. I would like to thank Chris Lambert for providing me with this information. Chris is a Deputy Launching Authority for the Tynemouth Lifeboat and Historian for the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade. The TVLB headquarters are at the 1887 built Tynemouth Watch House where you will find an exhibition on the Tynemouth and Cullercoats Lifeboats | ||||
LIFEBOAT ON343 – J.MCCONNEL HUSSEY
LOCATION : 355 FOLKESTONE
DATE FROM : 04/12/1893 TO : 31/03/1903
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Station Lifeboat
COMMENTS : A 38ft 12 oared self righting standard lifeboat, with no
transporting carriage, 8ft beam, 7ft stern, 8ft wooden/steel
keels, 19ft 6″ bilge keels,
3ft 5″ thwarts, 3 water tanks, 2 masts, 2 yards, 1 mizen
boom, and a no.1 rig, the overall weight 4 tons 3 cwts.
Built in 1892 by W T Ellis No E6 at the cost of £418.6.0d.,
which was donated by Miss Curling of London.
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The boat was on trials at London(Limehouse) storeyard from
18/1/1893.
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1901: Overhaul and bilges sheathed with copper, planking
repaired, new rudder with latest pattern fittings, water
tanks repaired, new wooden air cases to hold tanks & deck,
automatic ventilation provided for various new pattern
fittings.
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While at Folkstone 4 launches took place and 10 lives saved.
The lifeboat was withdrawn and re-appropriated to motor
experiments. Returned to London for fitting out.
LOCATION : 724 STOREYARD,LIMEHOUSE
DATE FROM : 31/03/1903 TO : 11/06/1903
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Adapted to motor boat
COMMENTS : The Motor designed by Fay & Brown of New York (9BHP)
weighing with fittings 24 cwts., holding 16 glns fuel
capacity, 1.1/2 pints per BHP per hour, 5.927 knots. The
lifeboat had repairs to damaged planking and aircases also
and reduced to 10 oars instead of 12.
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Placed in the relief fleet as a trials boat known as R2A.
LOCATION : 724 STOREYARD,LIMEHOUSE
DATE FROM : 11/06/1903 TO : 16/11/1904
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Experimental Trials
COMMENTS : The first lifeboat to be converted to a motor lifeboat. READ FULL DETAILS OF THE MOTOR CONVERSION
LOCATION : 5233 NEWHAVEN
DATE FROM : 16/11/1904 TO : 01/05/1905
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Further Trials
COMMENTS : 1 launch took place at Newhaven but there were no lives
saved recorded.
LOCATION : 724 STOREYARD,LIMEHOUSE
DATE FROM : 01/05/1905 TO : 31/05/1905
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Survey
COMMENTS : Various small repairs completed and the boat painted by
Leslie & Harbin.
LOCATION : 3156 TYNEMOUTH
DATE FROM : 31/05/1905 TO : 16/06/1911
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Further Trials
COMMENTS : 1906: Surveyed locally and found to have some small defects
which were made good and after further inspection by the
surveyor of lifeboats, new wood casing fitted.
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While on trials at Tynemouth 16 launches took place and 18
lives saved.
LOCATION : 3167 SUNDERLAND
DATE FROM : 16/06/1911 TO : 31/07/1914
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Further Trials
COMMENTS : It remained at Sunderland until July 1914 and carried out a
further 6 launches and saved another 3 lives.
This was to be her last experiments. It was then returned
to London storeyard.
LOCATION : 724 STOREYARD,LIMEHOUSE
DATE FROM : 31/07/1914 TO : 31/08/1914
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Withdrawn
COMMENTS : Inspected and prepared for the sale list.
LOCATION : 1098 NON OPERATIONAL
DATE FROM : 31/08/1914 TO :
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : SOLD
COMMENTS : While on RNLI service a total of 23 launches and 21 lives
saved.
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The Lifeboat Motor Conversion Details
