The village of Newbiggin by the Sea is looking for a missing lifeboat.
Newbiggin is a historic fishing village on the Northumberland coast with a long lifeboat tradition.
Plans for a maritime heritage centre are well advanced with one of the village's old lifeboats, the 'Mary Joicey', being restored to form one of the main attractions in the centre alongside a traditional coble, fisherman's cottage etc.
Trustees hav
e managed to determine the fate of all the other past lifeboats, bar one, the 'Richard Ashley.'
The 'Richard Ashley' was a 35 foot 6 Liverpool class boat, operational number 875 and built in 1950, which left Newbiggin in 1966.
Sold out of service in 1967 she moved to Red Bay Ulster where she was named Kirstey. Then she was sold to a new owner on the Isle of Luing becoming Kirstey of Luing. At this point the trail goes cold.
The owner's widow thinks she was sold to someone from Shetland but was not sure and investigations here have drawn a blank. There were possible sightings reported from Oban and the Holy Loch. Apparently she had a wheelhouse added on Luing.
Are you the present owner or do you know where she is or what became of her? Newbiggin would like to know. The contact is Dave Charlton on 01434 320863 or his e-mail address.
David Charlton
dave.jch@btinternet.com.
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