Launching the Lifeboat
Photographs of Gorleston lifeboats being launched
By John Layton and Paul Douch
Nowadays there are two local lifeboats.
The Gorleston Lifeboat is run by the RNLI, whereas the Caister one is run independently.
We don't have any photos of the Caister boats, but we have found out that the top one is the Louise Stephens, which served at Gorleston from 1939 to 1967. The website of the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat http://www.greatyarmouthandgorlestonlifeboat.org.uk/gallery-historical.html tells us that coxswain Paul Williment was in charge when the photo was taken, that is in the years between 1954 and 1958.
Many thanks to Mr Polson for his comment below re the Elizabeth Simpson. We have traced more photos of that long-lived boat, and they can be seen on this page: http://www.ourgreatyarmouth.org.uk/page_id__435.aspx
Launching the Gorleston Lifeboat, Louise Stephens, c1954-58
Gt Yarmouth Museums
Launch of the Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat, Elizabeth Simpson, c1910-1930
Great Yarmouth Museums