Lifeboat ‘Sir Fitzroy Clayton’ (1933-1935)
Fleetwood lifeboat station was temporarily closed from January 1930 to January 1933 while the slipway was rebuilt and the boathouse modified to take a motor-lifeboat, which was sent to the station on 15th January, 1933.
The lifeboat Sir Fitzroy Clayton was stationed at Fleetwood from 15th January, 1933 to August 1935. As the first motor-lifeboat at the station she was 38 foot long and 9 foot 9 inches beam. Powered by a 35 horse power Tylor petrol engine that gave her a service speed of 7 knots. A service of inauguration was held on 1st July, 1933.
Syd Hill was appointed as mechanic.
The Sir Fitzroy Clayton lifeboat only served two and a half years at the Fleetwood station, during which time there were four service call-outs and 4 lives were saved.
The rescues undertaken by the lifeboats Sir Fitzroy Clayton and subsequently Frederick H. Pilley during their period of service at Fleetwood from 1933 to 1939 may of themselves appear unremarkable in the spectrum of incidents that have taken place in far more severe weather. Nonetheless for the individuals involved they were crucial lifesaving events for those people saved in each of the services rendered. They are included to give a perspective on the work of the lifeboat service.
Fleetwood lifeboat Sir Fitzroy Clayton was launched early on Sunday morning 20th May, 1934 to go to the help of the yacht Wallaroo, a competitor in the annual Whitsuntide race from Fleetwood to the Isle of Man organized by the Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club. The lifeboat Sir Fitzroy Clayton was launched for the last time on 28th August, 1935 and replaced by the new boat Frederick H. Pilley. After leaving Fleetwood Lifeboat Station the Sir Fitzroy Clayton lifeboat was anchored in the river, where she remained until the next day when she was taken by Coxswain Jeff Wright and his crew to Lytham to her new owner, Mrs. V. Thompson, of East Beach, who had her converted into a yacht.
Record of Service Rendered by lifeboat Sir Fitzroy Clayton (1933-1935)
May 20th, 1934 Yacht Wallaroo.
September 15th, 1934. Motor boat Moonbeam.
October 7th, 1934. Motor Yacht ‘535’ of Preston. Saved 4 lives. May 29th, 1935. At sea for many hours in a vain search for a yacht reported to be missingFebruary 16th, 1882. ‘Venus’ of Helsingborg aground on Shell Wharf Bank. Rescued 9 men plus the Master’s wife, young son and woman servant. Two days later the lifeboat helped refloat the vessel and brought into docks. Lifeboat towed by tug ‘Relief’.
Fleetwood Lifeboats Past 