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The "Elizabeth Simpson"

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