100 years of History
Redcar's historic Zetland Lifeboat Museum has celebrated a century as the home to the world's oldest surviving lifeboat.

The museum opened in the old Redcar lifeboat house on 1 May, 1907, and took its name from the Zetland vessel. The boat was built in 1802 and is estimated to have helped save more than 500 lives during its 78 years' service. On Tuesday 1st May 2007 Lord Zetland led a ceremony at the seafront museum in front of some special guests.

Among them was current Redcar RNLI senior helmsman Mike Picknett, whose great-great uncle Thomas Hood Picknett was in charge of the Zetland and lived above the boathouse.

Honorary curator Eddie Ransom said: "This is the RNLI's oldest museum and it is important that we celebrate the 100 years that the Zetland has been helping to promote the work of the lifeboat service.

"Everyone who sees her and the other artefacts on display in the museum is amazed by just how courageous the early lifeboat men must have been."

The vessel was built by renowned Tyneside lifeboat builder Henry Greathead, who produced 31 of the world's first lifeboats.

...first published1 May 2007...