The Lifeboat Leslie

THE HISTORY OF THE FOLKESTONE LIFEBOATS
THE LESLIE

THE LIFEBOAT LESLIE 1903 – 1930

The Lifeboat Leslie Coming Ashore	The Lifeboat Leslie and Crew

THE LAUNCH OF LIFEBOAT LESLIE: 30th March 1903

The Folkestone Herald 4th April 1903

FOLKESTONE′S NEW LIFEBOAT

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH

In half a gale from the west Folkestone′s new Lifeboat, “Leslie” was launched on Monday morning. At about 11 o′clock the loud report of a canon startled a large number of townspeople and visitors, who hurriedly wended their way to Dover Road in full anticipation of the Fire Brigade turning out to the scene of some conflagration. This, however, proved not to be the cause of the report, and the rush of fishermen towards the Lifeboat house soon explained that the new lifeboat was to be launched. With great promptitude the crew of the lifeboat had gathered and were eagerly engaged in the work of arranging gear etc. All preliminaries having been settled for the launching, the crew donned their lifebelts and sou′westers, the ropes were affixed to the Victoria pier, and the boat, amid a round of cheering, was sent down the wooden blocks into the rolling surf. There was sufficient sea on at the time to remind one of the tempestuous weather when calls of help from distressed vessels are most frequent.

The launch was the quarterly one held under the auspices of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the fact that the craft was to receive its first dip in the hands of Folkestone lifeboatmen aroused much interest among the nautical section of the community. As the vessel struck the water heavy breakers were encountered, and the ropes attached to the pier not proving of much service the crew had to push themselves from the beach by means of their oars. Once out of her depth the “Leslie” made a grand start, and the jibs being hoisted. A splendid run to south east was accomplished. It was the opinion of the whole crew that the vessel behaved splendidly. In Weight it is a ton lighter than the old boat and possesses a centre keel. In length the craft is three feet shorter than the “John McConnel Hussey” (which has been removed from the port) and has 6 inches more beam.

A marvellous escape from serious injury was witnessed immediately after the launching of the boat. As a shower of rain came on the crowd made their way to the lifeboat house for shelter. Here it is that the rocket as signal to the ship in distress is fired directly the boat is launched and, in accordance with the usual custom at practices the rocket was fired. A young fisherlad, running up the slipway, narrowly escaped the full discharge from the rocket falling on his knees in response to a call of the officials within a few feet of the apparatus. As it was no harm was done.

Among those of the committee who witnessed the launch were Councillor G. PEDEN, the Rev. J. LAWRENCE, Commander PREDDY, Messrs WALKER, W. FOWLE, P DAWSON and W. D. FAGG.

LIFEBOAT ON508 – LESLIE

 LOCATION : 335    FOLKSTONE
DATE FROM : 20/03/1903  TO : 15/01/1931
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Station Lifeboat
 COMMENTS : A 35ft Standard Thames SR 10 oared lifeboat with 8ft 6″
            beam, 4ft amidships, 6ft 5″ stern, 8 relieving tubes, 6ft
            wood/iron keel, 10ft steel sliding keel, 17ft 6″ bilges, 3ft
            5″ thwarts, solid wood 7 x 3 wale, overall weight 3 tons 17
            cwts, 2 WB tanks, No.1 rig and 10 round oars.
            Built in 1902 by Thames Ironworks No.TK 32 at the cost of
            £787.12.2d provided from a legacy by Miss Skynner of Brighton.
            :
            Taken into service and placed on trial out of storeyard 17th
            February 1903 until sent to Folkstone as station lifeboat
            20/3/1903.
            :
            Off service:
	    Launched 30/3/1903
            1903: repairs to planking & leaks stopped in WB tanks.
            1919: Partial survey
            1920: Complete overhaul, leaks under bulkhead and WB tanks,
            stern, post refastened, garboard seams re-caulked, aircases
            repaired & stopped where leaking, new rudder, copper plate
            to gunwale to take cable shaft.
            1920 (Sept.) en-route to station from Chatham, damaged port
            bow and bow pudding – repairs carried out.
            1928: Partial overhaul, all in good order.
            :

 LOCATION : 724    STOREYARD,LIMEHOUSE
DATE FROM : 15/01/1931  TO : 24/04/1936
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : Exhibition Purposes
 COMMENTS : Minute 15/1/31 and withdrawn from Folkstone.
            :
            Later sale list December 1935.

 LOCATION : 1098   NON OPERATIONAL
DATE FROM : 24/04/1936  TO :
TIME FROM : 00:00
SITUATION : SOLD
 COMMENTS : While in RNLI service ON508 carried out 21 launches and
            saved 16 lives at Folkstone.

THE LIFEBOAT LESLIE 1903 – 1930

The Lifeboat Leslie after 1919 Cox′n W H BAKER 1919–1930

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