'Jesse Lumb' (1939-1970)
'Queen Victoria' lifeboat (1887)
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Bembridge Lifeboat History
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Isle of Wight Historic Lifeboat Trust & Veteran RNLI Lifeboats
The oldest surviving RNLI lifeboat ‘Queen Victoria’ (1887) was lying rotting and abandoned in the Bembridge Harbour mud after being used as a houseboat for more than 70 years. With her strange ‘caravan type’ superstructure, she was unrecognisable as the once proud pulling and sailing lifeboat that served at Bembridge Lifeboat Station from 1887 to 1902. Fortunately, she was known about and recognised by Martin, who removed her from the harbour in 1989 and started raising funds for her possible restoration. This was a slow and difficult process, as none of the local shipyards wanted to attempt the restoration due to the very dilapidated condition of the boat.
However, some years later in 1997, the newly formed Classic Boat Museum at Cowes agreed to take on the restoration project to demonstrate their boatbuilding skills, and a year later she emerged in superb pristine condition, looking as splendid as she did a century before. CBM made a great job of the restoration, but it was obviously and inevitably expensive, hence more funds and loans had to be raised to pay the final bills. ‘Queen Victoria’ was soon in demand nationwide for RNLI events and re-enactments, and over the years has raised an estimated £150,000 for the RNLI.
In 1998 Martin and other enthusiastic Trustees then formed the Isle of Wight Historic Lifeboat Trust (Regd. Charity No 1084864) to restore, manage and display veteran Bembridge lifeboats. More boats such as RNLB ‘Langham’ (1922), ‘Selina’ (1905) and RNLB ‘Jesse Lumb’ (1939) were 'rescued' and acquired, and the Trust now has four veteran Isle of Wight lifeboats. Two are currently displayed at the CBCT museum in Cowes, who kindly agreed to house them. RNLB ‘Langham’ is currently displayed outside our Shipwreck and Maritime Museum at Arreton. Fundraising to maintain and repair the lifeboats still remains the biggest challenge, and any support or voluntary help would be very much appreciated.
The story of these lifeboats and Bembridge Lifeboat Station history is told in the book written by Martin in 2016 and on sale at the RNLI shop at the Lifeboat Station. All proceeds go to RNLI funds.
Some re-enactments and nationwide events that 'Queen Victoria' has attended since her restoration in 1998:
* Lynmouth to Porlock overland horse drawn re-enactment across Exmoor
* Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay overland horse drawn re-enactment
* Bembridge to Sandown overland horse drawn re-enactment of 'John Douse' rescue
* Rowed around Nab Tower
* Cowes to Beaulieu row
* Appearance at 'Blue Peter' BBC studios in London.
* Lytham St Annes RNLI event
* Redcar RNLI event
* Rowed through Poole Harbour leading all lifeboats on RNLI 175th anniversary celebrations
* Guernsey RNLI event
* Rowed down Thames in the Great River Race on two separate years
* Attended Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Celebration Parade in London
* Towed by vintage steam lorry Bembridge to Sandown
* Towed around Newport by vintage traction engine
* Visit by HRH Prince Philip to view our vintage lifeboats at CBM
* Bembridge Lifeboat crew pulled 'QV' around Bembridge by hand
* Newhaven RNLI anniversary event
* Selsey Bi-Centennial anniversary event
* Rowed around Osborne Bay for RNLI event
* Bembridge 150th anniversary event
* Various Isle of Wight RNLI events and naming ceremonies
However, some years later in 1997, the newly formed Classic Boat Museum at Cowes agreed to take on the restoration project to demonstrate their boatbuilding skills, and a year later she emerged in superb pristine condition, looking as splendid as she did a century before. CBM made a great job of the restoration, but it was obviously and inevitably expensive, hence more funds and loans had to be raised to pay the final bills. ‘Queen Victoria’ was soon in demand nationwide for RNLI events and re-enactments, and over the years has raised an estimated £150,000 for the RNLI.
In 1998 Martin and other enthusiastic Trustees then formed the Isle of Wight Historic Lifeboat Trust (Regd. Charity No 1084864) to restore, manage and display veteran Bembridge lifeboats. More boats such as RNLB ‘Langham’ (1922), ‘Selina’ (1905) and RNLB ‘Jesse Lumb’ (1939) were 'rescued' and acquired, and the Trust now has four veteran Isle of Wight lifeboats. Two are currently displayed at the CBCT museum in Cowes, who kindly agreed to house them. RNLB ‘Langham’ is currently displayed outside our Shipwreck and Maritime Museum at Arreton. Fundraising to maintain and repair the lifeboats still remains the biggest challenge, and any support or voluntary help would be very much appreciated.
The story of these lifeboats and Bembridge Lifeboat Station history is told in the book written by Martin in 2016 and on sale at the RNLI shop at the Lifeboat Station. All proceeds go to RNLI funds.
Some re-enactments and nationwide events that 'Queen Victoria' has attended since her restoration in 1998:
* Lynmouth to Porlock overland horse drawn re-enactment across Exmoor
* Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay overland horse drawn re-enactment
* Bembridge to Sandown overland horse drawn re-enactment of 'John Douse' rescue
* Rowed around Nab Tower
* Cowes to Beaulieu row
* Appearance at 'Blue Peter' BBC studios in London.
* Lytham St Annes RNLI event
* Redcar RNLI event
* Rowed through Poole Harbour leading all lifeboats on RNLI 175th anniversary celebrations
* Guernsey RNLI event
* Rowed down Thames in the Great River Race on two separate years
* Attended Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Celebration Parade in London
* Towed by vintage steam lorry Bembridge to Sandown
* Towed around Newport by vintage traction engine
* Visit by HRH Prince Philip to view our vintage lifeboats at CBM
* Bembridge Lifeboat crew pulled 'QV' around Bembridge by hand
* Newhaven RNLI anniversary event
* Selsey Bi-Centennial anniversary event
* Rowed around Osborne Bay for RNLI event
* Bembridge 150th anniversary event
* Various Isle of Wight RNLI events and naming ceremonies
