History
The Leamington Spa Lifeboat Station – A History
In 1838, HRH Queen Victoria visited Leamington Spa and, so moved by the town’s beauty and wonder, bestowed upon it the prefix ‘Royal’. During the same visit, she officially opened the town’s first lifeboat station.
The Early Years
For the first few years, the Leamington Spa Lifeboat Station was manned by a crew of three. With just one boat, the Victoria, they kept the waters safe.
The original crew were: Bob Francis, Mark Johnson and Albert Symonds.
Sadly, all three drowned saving the lives of two nuns and a priest. Their sacrifice was immortalised in the popular hymn, Those Brave Men of Leamington Spa, I Sing Unto Thee Three.
Arise, Sir Lancelot
In 1852, the new lifeboat crew saved the life of local businessman, Sir Irvine Lancelot whose yacht had run into trouble during a storm. Grateful, Sir Lancelot donated a large sum of money which the crew used to buy a new lifeboat. Victoria was joined by Lancelot.
Tales of Bravery and Terror
Over the next eighty-eight years, the Victoria, the Lancelot, and their brave crews saved the lives of over twelve people.
- In 1892, the crew saved the lives of Mr and Mrs Sherringham and their son. The boy would grow up to become famous wrestler, Tyrant Tommy.
- In 1930, the lifeboat crew made the headlines when three of them were killed by what was believed to have been a mad wolf!
1940: Death Comes To Leamington Spa
During World War Two, the brave lifeboat crew continued to save the lives of stricken sailors but sadly, during a German bombing raid, the Lifeboat Station was completely obliterated. Lancelot, Victoria and twelve men were lost. A second bomb almost destroyed a statue of HRH Queen Victoria – the blast shifting Her Majesty a full two inches along the plinth.
The Museum
For years after the war, the people of Leamington Spa battled for the Station to be rebuilt. The Government insisted, however, that local sailors were protected by lifeboats from nearby Carlisle. Not wanting to forget the past, moves were made to build a museum. Finally, in 1987, the Leamington Spa Lifeboat Museum was erected on the site of the old station. It honours the memory of those brave men who saved so many lives.