Regular visitor finds piece of island history close to home
A REGULAR visitor to the island had a surprise when he came across an iconic Guernsey lifeboat moored on a river seven miles from his home in Witham, Essex.
Malcolm Turner, who has been coming to Guernsey since the 1950s, and wife, Gill, had gone to Heybridge Basin, Maldon, for a walk when they saw that a new electronically operated lock was now working and they went to have a look.
‘We saw a lifeboat near it and as soon as I saw the name – Sir William Arnold – I knew it was the one from Guernsey,’ said Mr Turner.
‘I have an interest in lifeboats, anyway, but it was such a coincidence to find that one almost on our doorstep.’
Mr and Mrs Turner were in Guernsey on Christmas Day 1973 when the ore-carrier Elwood Mead went aground on Petit Grunes off Vazon. It was not re-floated until 27 February 1974.
The Sir William Arnold, which was built in 1973, went on to serve the island until 1997 when it was replaced by a modern Severn class lifeboat. During that time it embarked on more than 500 rescue missions and saved 224 lives.
Its coxswains and crews attained 15 RNLI medals for gallantry from gold to bronze, countless certificates on Vellum, and other external awards for gallantry.
It is being restored by Lifeboat 52-02, a private limited company formed to preserve and promote a piece of British lifeboat and life-saving history, while educating the public. It is neither a charity nor part of the RNLI, but its volunteers are lifeboat enthusiasts. The company will from time to time make charitable donations to the RNLI.
The plan is to put the 52ft Arun class vessel on permanent display at London’s only floating Lifeboat Education and Experience Centre.
It had been hoped to do this in March but it could not happen because of the Covid crisis. It is hoped now that this can be done some time next year.
‘Being in Heybridge and not open to the public has allowed us to get on with the restoration projects, so that when we do get to London, and the restrictions for museums are relaxed, we will be in a much better position to open our sea doors to the public,’ said a spokesman.
The Sir William Arnold was built at Littlehampton, Sussex, in 1973 at a cost of £150,000. A significant amount of the money was raised by the local branch of the RNLI. Then branch vice-president, Sir William Arnold, was Bailiff at the time. He died in July 1973 before his retirement and the vessel was named in his memory by HRH The Duchess of Kent in 1974.
The vessel has had several owners since it left Guernsey. When it was lifted out of the water in October last year it was but a shadow of its former self. Barnacles had taken hold of the keel, hull, prop shafts and propellers.
Further details are available at www.lifeboat5202.com
