Lifeboat Histories

‘One of the bravest men who lived’ is how Henry Blogg, coxswain of the Cromer lifeboat for 38 years, was described by Viscount Templewood, President of the Cromer branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Henry Blogg joined the Cromer lifeboat in 1894 at the age of 18. At 26 he was second cox and at 33 became cox. He retired in 1947, at the age of 71. During his 53 years’ service the Cromer boats were out 387 times and saved 873 lives. No other lifeboatman has ever won as many medals as Henry Blogg.

Author Cyril Jolly, 1910-1994, gives an impressive portrait of Blogg and his deeds in this title, first published in 1958. The first edition was reprinted three times; this new edition includes extra photographs, some in colour, to further illustrate this epic story of rescue at sea.

As well as the stories of the boats and the communities, sometimes there is the story of an individual in the lifeboat service to be picked out, and their story told. Skipper Jack Woodhouse of Caister, who died in October 1999, was one such.

The village of Caister is renowned for its private lifeboat, the Bernard Matthews. The work of the company which maintains today's boat comes directly from the beach companies of the 19th century, and Caister remains the sole community maintaining a practical example of a once common way of life.

Today Gorleston is the home of two RNLI lifeboats, but in the early years of the 20th century a private lifeboat company also operated there. This booklet tells the story of its lifeboat, the Elizabeth Simpson.

Covering the years from 1824 to the re-establishment of the modern station in 1984, this booklet recounts the stories of many rescues and other adventures - such as the trials of the first tractor-launched lifeboat.