Harry Wood

HARRY WOOD, who was one of the longest serving crewmen on Bridlington's lifeboat, has died aged 80 following an accident at his home in Norfolk.

He served with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at Bridlington for more than 45 years until he retired in 1999, during which time he was also head launcher and served with three coxswains. He also received several RNLI decorations for his part in a number of notable rescues off the Yorkshire coast.

Mr Wood was born in Brighouse, in what was then the West Riding, but moved to Bridlington when he was 15, where he worked as a joiner and cabinet maker for Brighams, a local firm of funeral directors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He later established himself as a self employed joiner and builder and was known across the country, but especially in the northern region, for his work on many RNLI stations and boats.

In 1967 after rescuing two boys who had fallen down the cliffs at Flamborough, he received the RNLI's Vellum certificate.

Nearly a year later, he was one of the crew when Coxswain John King was awarded the RNLI's bronze medal after the offshore lifeboat stood by the fishing vessel Maria F in a south easterly gale. Mr Wood was one of six crew members to receive the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum. In 1980, he was one of the crew members to be rewarded after the lifeboat rescued three fishermen when their coble, The Three Fevers, sank and the Coxswain, Fred Walkington, was awarded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.

Five years later, along with his son Nick who was also in the crew for some years, he received a further bravery award as a crew member involved in a rescue from the yacht Sula Sula.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Wood, who was a very popular man and whose friendship was valued by many who knew him, retired to Horning, in Norfolk when he retired in 1999 and it was there he died last week following an accident with his car in the driveway of his home.

He is survived by his wife Pat, son Nick and daughter Sally.

Mr Wood's funeral is to be held at Bridlington Priory next Friday.