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The "Elizabeth Simpson" - INFORMATION REQUEST

The Elizabeth Simpson Volunteer Lifeboat, prob 1889

Great Yarmouth Museums

The Elizabeth Simpson Volunteer Lifeboat rowed and under sail

Great Yarmouth Museums

The Elizabeth Simpson Volunteer Lifeboat at sea

Great Yarmouth Museums

The Elizabeth Simpson leaves the Yare under motor power

Great Yarmouth Museums

The Elizabeth Simpson as excursion boat, prob 1936

Great Yarmouth Museums

Photographs of Gorleston's Volunteer Lifeboat

By Paul Douch

The Elizabeth Simpson was the Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat from 1889 to 1939. Operating as a private venture, independent of the RNLI boats, it was a 'Norfolk and Suffolk' type pulling and sailing lifeboat. The crew were mainly members of the Gorleston beach company known as the 'Rangers', based at Brush Quay.

Photo 1. SB Daniels, in his book The Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat "Elizabeth Simpson" (Poppyland Publishing, 1989), thinks this was the official photo for the launch on 23rd October 1889. Note the old type of lifejackets, made of cork.

Photos 2 & 3. No dates for these. SB Daniels notes that the boat appears partially under sail and partially rowed. Also that "Norfolk and Suffolk lifeboats had to be rowed in the standing position".

Photo 4. Mr Daniels, former honorary secretary to the Elizabeth Simpson, writes in his book that the boat was under motor power when the fourth photo was taken. This dates the photo circa 1926.

Photo 5 shows an excursion returning to Brush Quay, probably in 1936. SB Daniels writes: "For some years the Ranger men had converted Elizabeth Simpson for passenger carrying during the summer, running sea trips for visitors from Brush Quay, using the slogan 'Help us in summer to save drowning men in winter'.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to quote from The Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat "Elizabeth Simpson". The book can be purchased from www.poppyland.co.uk

Further acknowledgments to Norfolk's lifeboats by Roger Wiltshire (SB Publications, 1994)

This page was added by Paul Douch on 17/11/2007.

Comments about this page

I have this vessel in my garden waiting for the finances and someone to help me restore it. I also have an enormous amount of information, photo's books etc.
For her age she is in very good condition!

By Roy Masters
On 22/09/2009

My uncle owned this boat in the 50s and I spent many summer days on board. At that time the steering position was futher aft than I believe it is now and she was powered by two marine petrol engines. My father was the engineer and she was skippered by an old boy from Lowestoft. They used to run pleasure cruises from Lowestoft bridge. I believe the next owner fitted diesel engines and moved the steering position midships.

By Patrick Connett
On 04/03/2010

Hi there. I worked on the Elizabeth Simpson 1970/71. The skipper was Billy Beales. We used to do three trips to Berney Arms. I think George Elliot ,manager director of pleasure steamers, owned her.

By richard
On 14/06/2010

To Roy Masters. I have a very old post card of the Elizabeth Simpson, probably when she was new, or only a few years old. Is it of any interest to you? If so please let me know.

Regards Keith Gardner

By keith gardner
On 20/02/2012

This life boat was my family's lifeboat and was run helmed and crewed by predominatly Woods's. She was also a boat which in her service saved many more souls than Henry Blogg's boat the HF Bailey, but because she was a privatee her amazing record and the story of her life has been lost and wrongly overlooked by the RNLI

By Simon Woods
On 09/03/2012

My grandfather, Horace William Bowles, was a crew member on the Elizabeth Simpson, probably from the late 1800s to early 1900s. I have in my possession two medals that he received for rescues. The first one was for the ship Christean on October 14th 1903. The second medal says "37 lives saved from the SS War Valley by the Gorleston Lifeboats Elizabeth Simpson in 1919". Both medals carry his name. What a rescue that must have been in such a small boat with only 'man' power. I know nothing more about these or other rescues but would be very interested in more details. If only I had asked questions, but he died when I was a child.

By Brenda Myhill (ne. Bowles)
On 23/04/2012

INFORMATION REQUEST:

Winterton on Sea have recently rescued the Edward Birkbeck Lifeboat built by Beechings of GY in 1896. Do you have any information that may be of help to us in researching the background of our boat? If so, please email: woslifeboat@gmail.com. Thanks.

By B Kay
On 30/04/2012