PRINCESS ROYAL RESTORATION ASSOCIATION
The Princess Royal Lifeboat 1939 - 1968
The Princess Royal was Hartlepool's Lifeboat from 1939 until 1968; helping to save 94 lives, she also picked up the first Spitfire pilot that was shot down during World War II just off the north east coast. She won the Gold Medal in 1941 when a ship not long out of Sunderland harbour broke in half during horrendous sea conditions. She saved five men that were clinging onto the bow section of the ship after standing by in the terrible conditions for several hours; the coxen of the Lifeboat was awarded the Gold Medal which is the equivalent of the Victoria Cross for bravery.
In her lifetime she has served all around the British Isles saving approximately 190 lives, a pretty good pedigree to say the least! She was eventually tracked down in Barry Island, Wales, where she had been used as a fishing boat, then later as a type of tug to push and pull vessels into their moorings. She was sold in 2000 to the trust for the magnificent sum of, 'one penny' and brought back to her home in Hartlepool.
It has taken four years of hard work and sheer dedication to make her what she is today, a tribute to everyone involved. She is also the only boat that has been dedicated by a Princess Royal twice! The first time was by Princess Mary in 1941. This time it was by Princess Anne on the 11th September 2004. She is (the boat that is, not Princess Anne) going to run a ferry service from the marina to the historic Headland of Hartlepool, being able to carry 12 passengers at any one time. School children will also benefit by taking sea trips down to Seal Sands to watch the wildlife. This will begin during the spring of next year.
The trust itself has enough helpers to keep up the maintenance of the vessel but not enough money in the coffers! So if you would like to give a donation to a little bit of history please contact:
Mr Brian Stringer,
9, York Place,
Headland,
Hartlepool
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