Filey RNLI to lose all-weather lifeboat after nearly 220 years in operation

Filey RNLI is set to lose one its big boats that has been in operation for nearly 220 years.

The charity says it means big call-outs requiring the all-weather lifeboat will have to be carried out by neighbouring Scarborough and Bridlington.

John Ward, who is from Filey RNLI, said:

"About eight years ago the RNLI decided that they needed to look at the way the lifeboats were used on the Yorkshire Coast.

"They said it would be policy to withdraw the all-weather lifeboat from Filey and replace it with one of the new in-shore lifeboats - the Atlantic 85.

"The lifeboat tradition has been in Filey for 220 years but the nature of the call-outs have changed in that time.

"Up to 1870, Filey Lifeboat rescued more people than any other station in the UK.

"The nature of the job has changed and more and more the RNLI are looking and rescuing leisure crafts; yachts, dinghies and things like that.

"I think that's where the idea now comes that an Atlantic 85 boat would be better for us than an all-weather boat.

"There are a fair number of jobs that will be completed by the new boat and because it does over 40 mph, it can be at Flamborough in 15 minutes or Scarborough in 15 minutes.

"So the Atlantic 85 would be the rapid response unit and at the end of the day, it's only an in-shore lifeboat and therefore, the all-weather capability will be tasked to Scarborough and to Bridlington.

"But the new boat will be much busier because it can go to so many places so much quicker.

"I think everybody will miss it; the older ones more than the younger ones.

"But life is about change isn't it? Life is about responsibility and responding to an ever changing world.

"The young ones, along with the Helmsman, is looking forward to a real great challenge."