RNLB White Rose of Yorkshire

ON.1033 (Operational Number 44-012)

RNLB White Rose of Yorkshire

The White Rose of Yorkshire was a 44’ Waveney Class Lifeboat designed on a United States Coast Guard design for a steel-hulled all weather lifeboat, self righting by virtue of its inherent buoyancy. With a speed of around 15 knots it was the first design of a ‘fast’ lifeboat.

Whitby’s Waveney was built in 1973 by Groves & Gutteridge; the hull design to achieve the greater speed necessitated the boat being kept afloat at all times so a berth and pen were found adjacent to the existing boat housed that was used to house the RNLB Mary Ann Hepworth.

On the 21May 1975, the White Rose was officiallynamed by the Duchess of Kent, wife of the president of the RNLI, the Duke of Kent. The Marquis of Normanby president of the Station Branch opened the event by asking the Duchess to present a framed photograph of the boat to the donor, Miss Gwynaeth M.G. Milburn of Harrogate who up to that point had remained anonymous.  

Miss Milburn had been honorary secretary of the Harrogate ladies guild from 1952 to 1961. She had become a life governor of the Institution and also became a honorary crew member to the Station in recognition of her support.

The White Rose of Yorkshire served at Whitby from 1974-1988, she was launched 239 times saving 51 lives.

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After Whitby the White Rose of Yorkshire served at Invergordon for a further three(3) years before being sold out of service to the Canadian Lifeboat Service Institution for service as a lifeboat at Roberts Bank near Vancover.  

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