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The Sheffield Branch of the RNLI exists as a volunteer fundraising body.
Our many events cover a wide range of locations to enable us to help maintain the RNLI fleet.
For example, our latest Gala Day (the main annual fundraising event), at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield was a great success.
What we are about - The Sheffield Lifeboat!
A brief history
The Lifeboat 'RNLI City of Sheffield' was funded mainly by the City of Sheffield Lifeboat Appeal which raised £420,000 in its 18 month duration. The boat is a modified Tyne Class lifeboat and cost £500,000 in 1987.
At Whitby she replaced a 44 foot Waveney Class 'The White Rose of Yorkshire'
Taking up station at Whitby in November 1988, the boat was officially named on 28th July 1989 by H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent.
The boat served at Whitby until 1996, when a 14 metre 'Trent' class lifeboat was allocated to the Station. She then served as Temporary Station Boat at Ramsgate before a brief period in the Relief Fleet.
She was then chosen as one of the Tynes' to be re-fitted with DDEC engines and relocated to Hartlepool Lifeboat Station. At present fleetwide problems with these engines has prevented her taking up her Station duties.
In this first photo of the RNLI 'City of Sheffield' she sails from Whitby. This shot taken on August 1994.
Click on thumbnail above for larger picture.
Latest news
News from the Hartlepool lifeboat station tells us that recent engine trials on the 'Sheffield' have gone very well and at last the 'City of Sheffield' returned to station on Sunday 15th November 1998 from the boatyard at Grimsby. However she was not placed on call until 19th November because the coxswain and engineer were not happy with one or two things.
Since then the crew have spent a lot of time cleaning and polishing the boat to get her back into the condition she was before she left Hartlepool!. They have also had a couple of exercises so that the crew can, once again, find their way around the boat.
At Hartlepool, the coxswain, Eric Reeve, has retired at the grand old R.N.L.I. age of 55. Eric has been suceeded by Robbie Maiden, a third generation lifeboatman. The 2nd coxswain is now Ian Maiden, Robbies' younger brother. Quite a family tradition!
Thanks to Malcolm Cook (Station Management Committee) for this information.
Some notes about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
The RNLI has provided the lifeboat service for Great Britain and Ireland since 1824, and its boats can reach any point up to 50 miles off the coast. There are more than 200 lifeboat stations and their lifeboats launch more than 5000 times a year, saving on average 1300 lives. They are manned by highly trained volunteer crews, and every penny required to maintain the service is raised from voluntary contributions. The Institution is proud of its independent status as a registered charity, but works closely with HM Coastguard and other organisations to provide a co-ordinated sea rescue service.
Modern lifeboats are sophisticated vessels and range from high speed inflatable inshore lifeboats to 17m all-weather boats. The larger all-weather boats are capable of high speed in atrocious weather, are self-righting after a capsize and are fully fitted with modern navigation, location and communications equipment.
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