THE INDEPENDENT WORTHING LIFEBOAT STATION

The valiant sacrifice of the Brave Eleven was not in vain. In giving all, they revealed a vital need and inspired a successful campaign to fund an independent Lifeboat Station here at Worthing, with a self-righting lifeboat built at Harvey's, Littlehampton.

Captain Forbes, R.N., was instrumental in the campaign that raised £120 for the building of the lifeboat, which included a generous grant of £50 from the National Shipwreck Institution.

On Saturday, 25 June 1853, the trial of Worthing's first ever purpose-built lifeboat was carried out by Lieutenant Robert Wilcox, R.N., with a cheerful volunteer crew.

The trial was keenly observed by Admiral Forbes, chairman of the Worthing Lifeboat Committee, Captain Hargood RN, Captain Winthrop RN and Captain Griffiths.

The lifeboat, designed by Mr Peak was 27 feet long, 7 feet across the beam, and took 10 oars. Its capabilities and power, tested to the full by boisterous weather, were watched intently by hundreds of eager spectators.

After launching the craft through the surf to the edge of the breakers, its crew endeavoured to capsize her, firstly by all standing on the starboard broadside and attempting to turn her bodily over. That failed and captain Wilcox then directed the men to rush alternately from one gunwhale to the other, but the stability of the boat was so good they still failed to capsize her.

Subsequently, they sailed out to sea in a strong SSW breeze, lowered the sail and then tried her rowing capabilities. The crowd watched excitedly as the buoyant craft was put through its paces.

The results of the trial were most satisfactory. In a letter dated 27th June to the chairman of the lifeboat committee, Lieutenant Wilcox wrote: “Under all circumstances I can fairly pronounce her to be in every way adapted for the service for which she was designed as well as for the station (Worthing) to which she is appointed.”

Before the end of 1853, construction of a lifeboat house was complete, measuring 30 feet long by 20 feet wide, with an 8 foot high door measuring 10 feet 6 inches across.

A heavy iron launching carriage, weighing several tons, was constructed to transport the lifeboat over the sands.

Worthing's lifeboat station remained independent and locally funded, until the RNLI took over command in 1865.