The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2179

Status Registered

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Manchester Unity of Oddfellows at Sheringham Museum June 2022

Manchester Unity of Oddfellow - bow view, within museum space

Manchester Unity of Oddfellow - stern view

Details

Function Service Vessel

Subfunction Lifeboat

Location Sheringham

Vessel type Oakley 37 ft Lifeboat

Current use Museum based

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Osborne, William, Littlehampton

Built in 1961

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

11.51 feet (3.51m)

Length: Overall

36.98 feet (11.28m)

History

Built by W Osborne as THE MANCHESTER UNITY OF ODDFELLOWS; a 37ft Oakley fitted with twin Perkins P4M diesels. Hull is diagonally constructed, fastened with copper nails and roves. Current engines are Ford/Thornycroft diesels, 52bhp, fitted in 1981 to replace the twin Perkins Cost £28,500 to build. She was the gift of the Manchester Unity Friendly Society (The Oddfellows). She was named by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, on 15 June 1962. Came into service on 10 July 1961. She was launched 127 times and saved 134 lives. Her coxswains were 1961-2 Henry 'Downtide' West. 1963-84 Henry 'Joyful' West BEM, 1985-6 Jack West, 1986-90 Brian Pegg. The boat was re-engined in 1982 with (two) Ford Thorneycroft 250-2701E 52hp units, and these are the engines in the preserved boat. Has largely been restored to Museum condition. General maintenance work is in progress. On completion she will be as she came out of service in 1990. On display at Sheringham.

Key dates

1961
Oakley lifeboat built by W. Osborne at Littlehampton
1961-1990
In service as Sheringham lifeboat
1981
Original twin Perkins engines replaced with two Ford Thorneycroft 250-2701E 52hp units
1990
Taken out of service and put on display at Sheringham lifeboat station in museum condition