Lifeboat ‘Frederick H. Pilley’ (1935-1939)
Lifeboat ‘Frederick H. Pilley’ arrived on station at Fleetwood on August 28th, 1935. She was a similar lifeboat to her predecessor as a 38 foot self-righting lifeboat and was built in 1920 for the Lizard lifeboat station. She had been provided out of a gift from Mr F. H. Pilley, of Upper Norwood, in London.
With similar design and construction to the previous one she was driven by a single 45 horse power Tylor petrol-engine. She had greater horse-power engine with 45 horse power. instead of the 35 horse power of the previous lifeboat, giving a top speed of 7.5 knots.
The Frederick H. Pilley lifeboat was 38 feet long with a 9 foot beam. She was built twenty five years earlier and was first stationed at The Lizard, Cornwall, before going to Port Askaig on Islay, in the Scottish Hebrides, as the first lifeboat on this new station. From this station she was shortly afterwards taken to Sandbank boatyard in the Clyde, where she was refurbished ready to be transferred to Fleetwood. This lifeboat was brought to Fleetwood by sea, crewed by Coxswain Jeffrey Wright and members of the Fleetwood Lifeboat Crew.
They left Sandbank at 09.30 a.m. on Monday morning in fine weather and arrived at Girvan at 16.30 p.m. the same day. On the following morning they left Girvan at 07.00 a.m. and reached Ramsey, Isle of Man at 18.30 p.m. They departed Ramsey Isle of Man at 8.00 a.m. on Wednesday morning and reached Fleetwood the same night around 17.30 p.m. The lifeboat was bedecked with heather to show she had come down from Scotland.
Record of Service Rendered by lifeboat Frederick H. Pilley (1935-1939)
September 24th, 1935. Vessel reported drifting. No vessel found. Launched a few hours later to reported vessel aground. Nothing found.
October 15th, 1935. Fishing vessel Noel of Lancaster, aground on Pilling Sands.
November, 14th, 1936. Steamer J&J Monks of Liverpool. Broken down 3 miles North West of Blackpool North Pier.
August 14th, 1937. Motor yacht Skippool.
July 3rd, 1938. Motorboat Pastime.
February 17th, 1939. Motorboat Sister Pat out of fuel driven aground on Pilling Sands
Fleetwood Lifeboats Past 