RNLI Poole Lifeboat Station

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Poole RNLI Lifeboat is a busy coastal station covering the vast area of Poole harbour and beyond

28/10/2026

Busy Few Days at Poole Lifeboat Station

It’s been a busy few days for the volunteer crews at Poole Lifeboat Station, with awards, call-outs and stormy weather.
Sunday 25 October – Two lifeboats, tasked

At 11am on Sunday, the D-class lifeboat was exercising in Poole Harbour when it was tasked by UK Coastguard to search for a missing wing Foiler whose equipment had broken. They had last been seen between Hamworthy Park and Brownsea Island.
The crew searched the area before extending the search from the northern end of the shellfish beds towards Aunt Betty Cardinal, following the likely track of the casualty based on the conditions.

Meanwhile, UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Atlantic to assist a 7.5-metre sailing yacht that had broken free from its mooring just outside Blue Lagoon, inside the harbour, with one person on board.
While returning from its search, the D-class crew heard the Atlantic’s tasking over the radio and spotted the yacht, nearby.

The D-class proceeded to the yacht and waited for the Atlantic to arrive. After assessing the situation, it was decided that the D-class was better suited to assisting the yacht in the shallow water, while the Atlantic was better placed to continue the search in the prevailing weather conditions.

The D-class crew safely transferred the person from the yacht to Lilliput Sailing Club.
Thankfully, the missing wing Foiler was later located safe and well at Poole Yacht Club.
These incidents brought Poole Lifeboat’s call-out total to 111 and marked the first call-out for the station’s new Atlantic, Joan-Ray.

Then the Service of the Sea and special celebrations

Later that day, the crew donned their traditional Guernseys and gathered at St James' Church Poole for the annual Service of the Sea, giving thanks for the work of the Maritime community in Poole.

The lifeboat family turned out in force, with volunteer crew, families, friends, former crew members, Poole Lifeboat Museum volunteers and fundraisers all coming together.

It was a particularly special service, as two crew members received awards presented by Jayne George, the RNLI’s Chief Fundraising and Communications Officer, alongside the Deputy Mayor of Poole, Councillor Steve Hayes.

👏 Congratulations to Dave Riley (Smiley Riley), who received his 30-year award, and Steve Nelson, who received his 20-year award.

Dave began his lifeboating career with the RNLI at Eastbourne at the age of 17, while Steve started his service at the Isle of Arran and then Portishead.

These are incredible milestones, representing years of selfless dedication, commitment and courage. Both have given so much of themselves to help save lives, reunite families and bring loved ones home safely.

A heartfelt thank you to Canon Lucy Holt for her continued support, and to Karen Gorham Bishop of Sherborne, for her special message of support for the RNLI. It was very much appreciated.

The celebrations continued back at the station, where the crew and their families enjoyed a fish-pie supper and a fish-themed feast to mark these fantastic achievements.

And the calls kept coming…
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the crew were called out again. Due to the nature of the incidents, we won’t be sharing further details, but a huge well done to everyone who was out for much of the night. The extra hour of sleep gained when the clocks changed on Sunday was soon lost!

To all our volunteers, thank you for giving your time, dedication and courage, whatever the weather or the hour.

Always there. We answer the call, 24/7.
RNLI

27/10/2026

Join us if you are local 'Blowing a Hooley' with Murphy's lore please message for more info

25/10/2026

Join us for the Service of the sea at St James’ Church in the heart of Poole from tonight 6:30pm ⚓️🐟

24/10/2026

Mary Clark

It is with great sadness that we share the news that we have lost a much-loved member of our Poole Lifeboat family, Mary Clark, who has sadly passed away.
Originally from Immingham and the daughter of a Grimsby trawlerman, Mary met John Clark at a dance at the Mission to Seafarers , John had arrived in port on a boat from Poole. Mary at that time, was working in the offices of one of the Fish Merchants on Grimsby docks. Mary had volunteered through the church to serve the teas, and John asked her to dance. That dance never ended a led to a long happy marriage.
Married life for Mary began with moving south to a different coastline and living above John’s parents’ pub, The White Horse on West Quay Road, John soon went back to sea, he was a ‘Red duster’ and Mary settled down and would help behind the bar and she was a member of the ladies’ darts team.
When John joined the lifeboat crew in 1971, Mary, alongside the other lifeboat wives, spent many weekends at Salterns Marina, where the lifeboat station was then based. The families would gather over a weekend duty, the wives forming friendships and bonds that would last a lifetime and their lifeboat children, brought up together, amongst their ‘Lifeboat Aunties' and Uncles’.
Mary’s son, Jonathan, followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the crew officially at the age of 16 and served alongside his dad, and is still serving on the crew today.

After John Snr retired from the crew, Mary’s commitment to the lifeboat station continued. During the 1990s and into the 2000s, she served as Souvenir Secretary and could often be found behind the till or stocking the shelves with Lifeboat Christmas cards at the old lifeboat station Museum at Fisherman’s Dock.
Mary was always there to support the station’s Open Days, selling raffle tickets, running the tombola and baking cakes for the refreshments. Her Dorset apple cake was a particular favourite amongst the crew, as were her delicious mince pies at Christmas.

Mary was also remembered fondly by the Blandford Lifeboat fundraising branch for her skittle prowess and perfect strikes as she led the charge at the inter-skittle socials helping Poole lifeboat Fundraisers take the skittle spoils, they were fun evenings in the skittle alley.

And with the Service of the Sea approaching, it would be impossible not to mention Mary’s famous fish pie. She never lost her Grimsby roots, and for many years after the Church service, Mary and John opened their home to lifeboat crew and their families, laying on a wonderful fish feast. It became a tradition, one that the lifeboat station continues to this day and there will be fish pie
“made just the way Mary always did ‘
served up tomorrow evening, back at the lifeboat station after this years’ Service of the Sea at St James’.

Even when Mary could no longer be as active as she would have liked, she continued to support the station in her own way, helping to count fundraising money, clipping lifeboat shout reports from the Bournemouth Echo and, of course, keeping everyone supplied with her wonderful cakes.
Mary was immensely proud of all her family, her two daughters Diana and Nichola, her son Jonathan, her eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren and especially so when her youngest granddaughter, Lily, continued the family’s lifeboat connection by joining the crew herself.
Mary celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this year, surrounded by the family she loved and championed so dearly.
She leaves behind a wonderful legacy of family, friendship, generosity and service. Mary will be sorely missed she was simply, a lovely lady, and her memories will live on in the traditions she helped create and the friendships she nurtured.

Mary passed on the recipe books, to her granddaughter Lily who is also a wonderful baker, ensuring Mary’s baking traditions live on.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at St James’ Church, Poole, on Friday 6th November at 2pm.

Donations in memory of Mary may be made to Poole Lifeboat Station and the Salvation Army.

Picture
Mary with Lily working a shift in the Poole Old Lifeboat Museum
Mary and good friend and fellow lifeboat wife Carol Buckby
Helping out at RNLI Poole Lifeboat Open Day

23/10/2026

Although the clocks go back this weekend, there will be no extra hour in bed for our RNLI lifeboat volunteers if the pager goes off. On-call 25/7!! 😊 📟

22/10/2026

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is reminding those visiting the coast to be aware of the dangers as Storm Austen is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of England and south Wales from late Thursday into Friday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning with winds forecast to reach more than 70mph in coastal locations along the south coast of England and south Wales.
The expected strong winds will also bring heavy rain posing a safety risk to those visiting the coast.

RNLI Water Safety Manager, Ross Macleod said: ‘Storm Austen is set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we’re asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks. If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.

'If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: Lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing before then calling for help or swimming to safety.

‘If you see someone else in danger – do not enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious difficulty. Instead, remember phone, float, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to float; throw them something buoyant, like a life ring.’

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, the RNLI’s safety advice is float to live:
* Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
* Relax and try to breathe normally
* Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
* It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
* Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.
If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, remember Phone, Float Throw:
* Phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard to get help.
* Tell the struggling person to Float to Live.
* Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring.

17/10/2026

VIDEO: Last week we said goodbye to our Atlantic 85 Sgt Bob Martin and welcomed our new Atlantic 85 (Mk3) Joan-Ray.
RNLI

14/10/2026

Poole inshore lifeboat launched just after 2am on Wednesday 14 October following a request from HM Coastguard to reports of a 19ft yacht aground.

The yacht, with one person onboard, had grounded near the entrance to the River Frome. The occupant was waiting for the next high water in the hope of refloating the vessel.

The person had already entered the water in an attempt to free the yacht. HM Coastguard subsequently lost communications with the occupant, prompting the launch of Poole’s D-class inshore lifeboat.

On arrival, the volunteer crew located both the yacht and its occupant. He was safe and well, but despite high water having passed, he had been unable to refloat the vessel. Earlier, he had secured a line to a nearby navigation post.

The crew offered to take him ashore, but he was content to remain onboard and wait for the next high water to make another attempt to refloat the yacht.

Poole inshore lifeboat returned to station, where the boat was refuelled and made ready for service again by 3:40am.

This was launch 106 for Poole volunteers this year.

Address

The Quay By The Old Lifting Bridge
Poole
BH151HA.

Telephone

+441202665607

Website

https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/poole-lifeboat-station, https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Poole/

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