Lifeboats and Family

The lifeboat service has been part of my family's life for as long as I can remember.

'J. C. Madge': The longest Liverpool Class RNLI Lifeboat

Sheringham had two operational lifeboats for over 50 years, and when I was young these were the 'J. C. Madge' of the RNLI and the fishermen's lifeboat 'Henry Ramey Upcher'.

'Henry Ramey Upcher': Built in Sheringham by "Buffalo" Emery

Each boat had its own coxswain but all the fishermen were eligible for both crews and to "run for a belt".




The first Institution lifeboat, the 'Duncan' arrived in 1867 nearly 30 years after the first fishermen's lifeboat the 'Augusta' was launched. The 'Duncan' was a standard 36ft self-righter design with 12 oars. There are few photos of her, but this one was taken in the early 1870's.

The 'Duncan' and her Crew

My cousin May Ayres who was a local historian and author has identified two of our great grandfathers in this photo.

You can see them in the close-up: Joshua Henry "Joyful" West (left), and Robert "Philloo" Cooper (middle). At this time "Philloo" (sometimes "Philoloo") was second coxswain while William "Buck" Craske (right) was coxswain.



My great grandfather Joshua Henry was the original "Joyful" West and his nickname got passed down through the generations.

Great Grandfather "Philloo"

My other great grandfather Robert "Philloo" Cooper was voted coxswain of the 'Duncan' in 1875 and kept the post for 9 years, well after the official retirement age of 60.







According to cousin May, great grandfather "Philloo" was a bit of a 'so and so', and when coxswain, was in trouble with the Institution on more than one occasion. The main problem was that the 'Duncan' was more difficult and slower to launch than the fishermen's lifeboat. So on several occasions the fishermen's lifeboat 'Augusta' took the crew off before the 'Duncan' could be launched. "Philloo" would be reprimanded by the local Committee, but that didn't worry him.

The first Institution slipway was washed away in the great storm of 1897.

Route of Slipway from first RNLI Boat House

First RNLI Slipway after Storm Damage

The RNLI lifeboat at the time, the 'William Bennett' was then kept at the East End in Beach Road until it was moved to the Old Hythe where the new lifeboat house was built.



My grandfather, Joshua Joyful" West served in the RNLI's 'William Bennett' and in the second fishermen's lifeboat 'Henry Ramey Upcher'.

Later on my father, and uncle Henry Willie West, served on the next Institution lifeboat 'J. C. Madge' and the fishermen's lifeboat 'Henry Ramey Upcher'.

Grandfather Joshua "Joyful" West

'J. C. Madge' around 1910 (Uncle Wille far right)

During the First World War, my father was in the Royal Navy on the monitor ship “HMS Thunderer” at the Dardanelle’s campaign and then on the battle cruiser “HMS Queen Mary”. He was on leave when the Battle of Jutland took place and “HMS Queen Mary” blew up – it must have been a terrible shock to lose all his shipmates so suddenly and he probably never got over it.


Meanwhile Uncle Willie stayed in Sheringham and was in the crew of the “J.C. Madge” for the famous Uller rescue in 1916 when the lifeboat went to Grimsby and was away from the town for 4 days. 
 
The “J.C. Madge” was a good lifeboat but she didn’t protect her crew from what the sea threw at them. As a 10 year old I remember my father went out in her to stand by the barge “Fred Everard” that had gone aground at Blakeney Point, after collision with another vessel. In the end no help was needed as the barge refloated. When father returned from the boathouse his face and hair were covered in sparkling salt crystals. This service took place on the same day, 13 December 1933, that the Cromer motor lifeboat with coxswain Henry Blogg in charge saved the crew of the barge “Sepoy”. The conditions at Blakeney Point that day would have been just as bad as those at Cromer.

Wreck of the 'Sepoy' at Cromer

Fred Everard

 

When necessary, father and Uncle Willie volunteered to man the fisherman’s lifeboat “Henry Ramey Upcher”. There were many other relations in the crew – Cooper's, Little's and Cox’s as well as West's as you can see in this photo from the early 1900’s.

Standing L-R: ‘Honey’ Grimes, Bob Cooper, John Rook Reynolds,

Robert Rushmer, ‘Old Doker’ West, ‘Salter’ Farrow, ‘Little Dick’ West,

Rufus West, John ‘Teapot’ West (Fisherman Evangelist),
‘Old’ Middleton, ‘Duffle Dick’ Little.

Sitting L-R: ‘Jack Tar’ Bishop, ‘Old Odden’ West, ‘Bumshee’ West,

Wilson Able, Jim ‘ Mace’ Johnson, ‘Spit-fire’ Farrow, ‘Black Bob’ Bishop.

Coxswain ‘Old Coley’ Cooper is standing in the lifeboat

In 1966, at around the 30th anniversary of 'Henry Ramey Upcher's' retirement, father and uncle Willie, as well as other former crew members got together to reminisce about the rescues they were involved in.

Uncle Willie, "Duncan" Cooper and father, 1935

Standing L-R: Teddy ‘Fiddy’ West, father,

Jimmy ‘Paris’ West, Walter ‘Pongo’ Little,

Henry‘Pinny’ Little. Seated is uncle Willie