Neil Williamson

Wreck of the SS Lucy A Swedish-owned cargo ship which was en route from Grangemouth to Bordeaux. She ran aground between Kettleness and Sandsend on Christmas Day 1930. The crew of 18 were all rescued safely by the Whitby Lifeboat.

RIP Robert Duvall, 95. Any fans or favourite roles?

Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning star of The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Tender Mercies, has died at 95. A seven-decade career. Countless unforgettable roles. A true giant of American cinema.

Marga, launched 1910

Good morning.

Oh yeah, we're feeling the rush. Happy friday, bros! Photo: Cory Silkin

Whitby RNLI 2026 calendar sales top £16,000 mark trib.al/uJGq6Hh

Good morning.

Due to the present weather conditions our Museum & Shop will be closed today. In the meantime enjoy this snowy photo of Khyber Pass and the Piers from c1950. We hope you stay safe during this period of inclement weather.

OTD 1930 Whitby's No 1 Lifeboat RNLB Margaret Harker-Smith under the command of Coxswain Thomas MacGarry Kelly rescued 18 sailors from the 'SS Lucy of Helsingborg' which had run aground at Sandsend Ness. The boilers of the wreck of the Lucy are still visible today at low water.

May we at the Whitby RNLI Museum and Shop take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that you have a safe and peaceful festive holiday. Thank you for all your support in visiting our shop in the past year; we wish you all the best for 2026.

OTD 1914, German battlecruisers shelled the English towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool causing 137 deaths. Whitby was lucky with the bombardment only causing damage to property including the newly opened Coastguard Station and the Coastguard houses.

Today in 1914, German battlecruisers shell the English towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. 137 are killed in the attack, most of them civilians. The Royal Navy is widely criticized for failing to prevent the bombardment, while outrage over the incident drives enlistment

OTD 1904 Henry Freeman died. Henry was a lifeboat man from 1861-99, he was the sole survivor from the Whitby's 1861 Lifeboat disaster in which 12 crew perished. He was Coxswain from 1874 to 1899 during which time under his command Whitby lifeboats saved 152 lives.

OTD 1988, the RNLB City of Sheffield arrived at Whitby to serve as its Lifeboat, the boat was paid for by the people of Sheffield. The City of Sheffield was stationed at Whitby until 1996, in that time she was launched 239 times saving 88 lives. Enjoy this picture by Mark Smales

OTD 1913 the SS Coronation went a shore at Ravenscar. Known as the Ship with Nine Lives, the Coronation spent months on the rocks at Ravenscar, she was refloated & caught fire whilst in dry dock in Hartlepool, was then capture by the Germans in 1914 and was finally lost in 1921.

OTD 1802 Whitby's first ever Lifeboat service took place. A boat supplied by Henry Greathead was launched to rescue the crew of the Sloop Edinburgh which was grounded near the harbour entrance in a north easterly storm. Pictured is Henry Greathead and engraving of his Lifeboat.

OTD 1958 the V Class Submarine, HMS Volatile broke loose from her tow off Whitby whilst being towed to a Tyne Shipyard for scrapping and was washed ashore at Sandsend Wyke. The Submarine was refloated on 23 Dec 1958 and continued on her journey to the Tyne.