The photo shows the then lifeboat Mabel E Holland, which was in service between 1957 and 1979 It certainly looks cumbersome and heavy compared with todays boats. And of course no fancy tractors to haul it up and down the beach – just the ‘wives’ (sorry The ‘Dungeness Lady Launchers) and an old winch. The ‘Ladies’ not only had to man handle the heavy oak ‘woods’ or ‘skids, upon which the lifeboat was moved across the beach they often had to give a ‘piggy back’ to the menfolk of the crew to ensure they were completely dry before setting off. Much more detail of these ladies and the well written history of the local lifeboat can be found on www.dungenesslifeboat.org.uk/shouts/31-history
Copied below – without the permission of the local RNLI (but hope they wont mind) a list of the ‘shouts’ the Mabel E Holland was involved in during her tenure here at Dungeness.
R.N.L.B. MABEL E. HOLLAND 1957 – 1979
3 Dec 1958 – S.S. Prodromos of Monrovia, landed (12)
4 Dec 1958 – S.S. Prodromos of Monrovia, landed (6)
1 Jan 1959 – Houseboat Petrina of Itchenor, gave help
13 Feb 1959 – F.V. Breadwinner of Hastings, stood by vessel
29 June 1959 – Rubber Dinghy, saved dinghy
7 July 1959 – Cabin Cruiser Kaye of Rye, gave help
12 July 1959 – Rubber Dinghy (4)
2 Sept 1959 – Yacht Glenshane of Chichester, escorted yacht
17 Apr 1960 – Sailing Dinghy, saved dinghy
19 Apr 1960 – Fishing Vessel Morag (3)
19 July 1960 – Sailing Dinghy Sioux Kayak, saved boat (1)
28 July 1960 – Launch Victor and Yacht Lulworth Castle, gave help
12 Feb 1961 – MV. Jacqueline Roberta of Folkestone, saved boat (3)
17 Feb 1961 – Naval Tanker, gave help
18 June 1961 – F.V. Little Dick of Dungeness, saved boat (3)
And again- for overseas readers – the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) which covers the entire U.K. coastline is funded entirely from donations and crews are purely volunteers.
Also noted in last weeks Kentish Express three young lads from the local Marsh Academy, raised over £1300.00 to be shared between the Dungeness and Littlestone RNLI. The lads took photographs, available from a local Facebook group (Marsh Sunrise and More) and created and marketed calendars.
Great to see local youngsters getting involved in this worthwhile charity.
SHACKS ??????? Fishermens cottages if you please. I was brought up in Lloyds cottage, one of the bungalows on the west side of the point right next to Dungeness A power station. My home was snug in the winter and cool in the summer. When I was a boy I could lay in bed looking out of the window. I would watch ships of all descriptions sail close by the point through Rye bay as there was no power station then and no separation bouy to send them further from the Ness. I was always pleased to see the blue star line steamers sail majestically past and dreamed of being captain of one of them when I grew up. .Well the only vessels I got to skipper were the Jos boys and Night fighter. Two of the inshore beach trawlers. My Grand father was bowman in the rowing and sailing boats of old, my father and his brother were crew members in the motor boats Charles Cooper Henderson and Mabel E Holland. I started life boating as a boy launcher and then took my place in the crew when Archie Oiler retired. I sailed under Punch Tart just prior to his retirement. Then Honker Haines and then it was between myself and William Richardson who should take coxwains position after Honker retired. William had been a crew member about a year before me so as happened he took over as coxwain..
I have watched the BBC programme about the lady launchers at Dungeness. Has a book been written if so can you give me the authors name. My husband and I enjoyed the program very much, we used to go to Dungeness a lot when we lived in Kent and Essex. We have n’t been for sometime now as we live in Staffordshire.