The pride of Redcar!
The RNLI’s Zetland Museum, home to the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat, has celebrated its centenary with a special ceremony.

The Zetland lifeboat arrived at Redcar, Cleveland, in 1802 and saved more than 500 lives during 78 years’ service. After retiring from lifesaving, she was kept in storage before being put on display in 1907 at her current home - a former lifeboat house just 100m from the modern RNLI lifeboat station.

To mark the centenary, the current Lord Zetland led a special ceremony on 1 May. Guests included Redcar's RNLI Senior Helmsman Mike Picknett. Mike’s great, great uncle was Coxswain of the Zetland and members of the family have crewed Redcar lifeboats almost continuously since 1802.

Eddie Ransom, the museum’s Honorary Curator, says the people of Redcar are very proud of their seafaring heritage: ‘Everyone who sees the Zetland is amazed by just how courageous the early lifeboatmen must have been. They put to sea in dreadful weather conditions, rowing an open boat without any of the specialist equipment today’s crews have, and saved hundreds of lives off the Redcar coast.’

The Zetland is the only survivor of the 31 lifeboats built by renowned South Shields lifeboat builder Henry Greathead. She pre-dates the foundation of the RNLI by 22 years.

Visitors can take a look at the famous lifeboat for themselves. The RNLI Zetland Museum on Redcar’s Esplanade is open 11am-4pm every day except Mondays until the end of September. Entrance is free but donations help to meet the cost of saving lives at sea.

...first published 13 July 2007...