Station History

Cromer lifeboat station today, is very proud of it's outstanding history. Probably one of the best known Coxswains in the country is Henry George Blogg who became a member of the crew in 1894 at the age of 18. With such a famous Coxswain having served here the whole team consider themselves very lucky to be part of such a well known station.

There have been many occasions when the station has been called upon to respond to someone in need of assistance, weather it be to a sinking vessel miles off shore or to someone in difficulties on the waters edge. Every time that call has come in the crews of Cromer Lifeboat Station have endeavoured to do the best job they could to lend a helping hand.

1804 The establishment of a lifeboat at Cromer

1857 The RNLI took over lifeboat operations on 29th December

1868 New boathouse constructed at a cost of £298.00

1877 Tests were made each time the lifeboat was afloat. Half the oarsmen wore waistcoat life-belts and the other half strap and buckle belts

1895 Gas laid on at boathouse

1904 100 years of lifeboats in the town

1923 With the introduction of a motor lifeboat to Cromer, a new lifeboat house and slipway was constructed at the end of the pier at a cost of £32,000

1945 The Henry Blogg lifeboat was the first mid-ship steering type of lifeboat

1967 D class inshore lifeboat sent to station in March and No.2 station closed on 22nd June

Ruby and Arthur Reed lifeboat named on 21st June

1985 Inshore lifeboat D-307 Spirit of Roundtable named on 18th June

1986 Tyne class lifeboat Ruby and Arthur Reed II named on 20th June

1998 New ALB boathouse and slipway completed in October

2002 D Class ILB Seahorse III named on 20th October

2004 200 Years Celebration Ball

2005 Work starts on new lifeboat museum, ILB moved into temporary home until work is completed.

2006 RNLI Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum opened by Ronnie Corbett & ILB moved into No.2 boathouse

2007 Relief lifeboat Royal Shipwright placed on duty in March while work is carried out on the slipway.

2008 Tamar class lifeboat Lester placed on operational duty in January.

2011 New IB1 Inshore lifeboat George and Muriel named in June