Lifeboat disaster recalled on its 60th anniversary

ONE of the worst tragedies in living memory on the Yorkshire coast will be remembered next week.

Monday marks the 60th anniversary of the “Flamborough Tragedy” when two teenage girls from Sheffield were swept out to sea and a crewmember of Bridlington Lifeboat, attempting a rescue, lost their lives.

Joan Ellis and Gillian Fox, both 16, were “laughing and screaming” as they swam into the middle of Thornwick Bay, Flamborough, in the afternoon of August 19, 1952. But they soon got into difficulties in rough seas.

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Flamborough Lifeboat was unable to launch and rockets with lines were fired to the girls from the clifftops. Eyewitness Marian Bean, then just five, recalled one of the mothers crying out: “Save the other one first, she’s not mine”, and people in the crowd trying to comfort her.

One of the girls - she turned out to be Joan Ellis - made a “terrific” fight for the line, but was only able to hold on momentarily before losing her grip. Another line caught her, but it proved impossible to drag her into the shore. An RAF air sea rescue launch managed to negotiate the perilous seas to get round the Head and rescue her, but resuscitation attempts failed.

Meanwhile Bridlington Lifeboat was searching for an object seen floating in the water, but ran into a big sea which struck the lifeboat and rolled her over. Five men were washed into the sea, including bowman Robert Redhead, who lost his life.

Gillian Fox’s body was recovered the following week. The RNLI made awards to crewmembers and pensioned Mr Redhead’s widow.

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Flight Sergeant Frederick Banks, who was in charge of the launch, was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Bridlington Lifeboat coxswain Steve Emmerson said: “It was very unfortunate circumstances that the Flamborough Lifeboat wasn’t on service because the slipway was being modified and the Bridlington lifeboat had to be brought into unfamiliar waters, setting off a series of events, which ended tragically.” Lifeboat treasurer Paul Arro, who researched the disaster, is appealing for anyone with memories of the tragedy to get in touch.

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