William and Laura | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2176

Status Registered

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William and Laura at trials, Isle of Wight on 6th July 1949

Details

Function Service Vessel

Subfunction Lifeboat

Location Cultra

Vessel type Liverpool Class Lifeboat

Current use Museum based

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Groves & Gutteridge Ltd, Cowes

Built in 1949

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Petrol

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

10.23 feet (3.12m)

Length: Overall

35.48 feet (10.82m)

History

WILLIAM AND LAURA served at Newcastle, County Down, from 1949 to 1980. She was launched 58 times and saved 54 lives.

In 1949 ON703 L.P. AND ST.HELEN was withdrawn and replaced by a Liverpool class lifeboat named ON870 WILLIAM AND LAURA. In 1950, Patrick McClelland was appointed coxswain, replacing William Murphy who had stepped down from the position at the end of the previous year.

In 1955, the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Coxswain Patrick McClelland in recognition of his skill and seamanship when the lifeboat rescued the crew of four of the fishing boat GEORGINA HUTTON which sank at the entrance to the Dundrum River in a fresh south-south-westerly wind and a rough sea in the darkness of the night of 10 November. The skipper of the fishing boat was French, and the French Consul in Belfast expressed thanks on his own behalf and on behalf of the French Government. In 1960, Michael F. Leneghan was appointed coxswain, replacing Patrick McClelland.

In 1980, WILLIAM AND LAURA was withdrawn and replaced by an Oakley class lifeboat ON974 JANE HAY.

In 2020, WILLIAM AND LAURA went on display at Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Co Down.

Key dates

1949
Lifeboat built by Groves and Guttridge at Cowes, Isle of Wight
1955
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Coxswain Patrick McClelland in recognition of his skill and seamanship when the lifeboat rescued the crew of four of the fishing boat GEORGINA HUTTON
1980
Served at Newcastle from 1949 to 1980. Launched 58 times and saved 54 lives
2008
Purchased by National Museums Northern Ireland for display at Cultra, Co. Down, Ulster
2020
On display at Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Co Down