Photo by Dave Mantripp

Photo by Dave Mantripp

Photo by Dave Mantripp

The 37ft Oakley self-righting lifeboat built by Herd and Mackenzie at Buckie in Scotland. Smaller than the previous boat, the Oakley would be able to launch at any state of the tide. Like her predecessor, she was given the name of the chairman of the RNLI committee of management, Valentine Wyndham-Quin. She was due to enter service early in 1968, but for some months was on the slip at Rowhedge Lower Yard while alterations were made to the pier slipway at Clacton to enable her to take over. The Sir Godfrey Baring was meantime based at Brightlingsea, as her predecessor had been at the beginning of the second World War.

The new lifeboat arrived at Clacton on January 18th 1968. Due to the silting up at the end of the slipway, there had been occasions when the 46 foot 9 inc long Sir Godfrey Baring had been unable to launch and so in an attempt to get over this problem the RNLI had decided to station a smaller lifeboat at Clacton. The new boat was a 37 foot Oakley class self-righting, built by Herd & Mackenzie, at Buckie, at a cost of �37,000.

The new lifeboat was launched for the first time on service at 13:50Hrs on February 4th 1968, after a small boat had been reported in difficulties off Jaywick. She was the cabin cruiser "Ginny" with three people on board, the boat's engine having broken down. The cabin cruiser was taken in tow to Brightlinsea and placed on moorings there at 15:30Hrs.

The date for the naming ceremony of the new lifeboat was fixed for Tuesday April 23rd 1968. As final preparations were being made the previous morning, the lifeboat had to be launched at 11:30Hrs, after wreckage had been sighted 1.5 miles NE of the Mid-Barrow Light vessel. Several other ships took part in the search, but only wreckage was recovered and it was thought likely that it had come from an old wreck which was breaking up.

Next day everything was ready for the ceremony and in front of a large crowd of supporters, HRH Princess Marina formally christened the new lifeboat "Valentine Wyndham-Quin", after the former Chairman of the RNLI, the boat having been provided out of a legacy from Mr. H.P. Harris, of Dorridge, an anonymous gift and RNLI funds.

In September 1968 Charles Bolingbroke took over as Coxswain.

Early on the morning of August 6th 1970, the Coastguard reported that red rockets had been sighted off West Mersea and the Valentine Wyndham-Quin was launched at 01:35. A force 6 southerly wind was blowing, increasing in strength all the time and the sea was very rough. Using parachute flares and her searchlight, the lifeboat searched the area and at 03:00Hrs more red rockets were spotted, the casualty being found 1.5 miles south west of Bench Head Bouy. She was a converted ship's lifeboat, with three people on board and was at anchor, her engine having broken down. With the wind by that time having risen to force 9, blowing against the tide, sea conditions in the area were dreadful. Coxswain Bolingbroke tried approaching from the north, but the lifeboat grounded and had to pull clear. As the tide rose, they tried again and this time, succeeded in getting alongside the casualty, the three men quickly jumping into the lifeboat. They were landed at Bradwell Wharf and the lifeboat was put on moorings at Brightlingsea until the weather improved and she could be rehoused. For this excellent service, Coxswain Charles Bolingbroke was awarded the RNLI's Thanks on Vellum.