Show/hide the RNLI Lifeboats History

Over the years the Morgan Giles yard carried out  a considerable amount of work for the RNLI ranging from building of new lifeboats to overhaul and repairs on existing boats.

Three lifeboats were built in the yard to designated RNLI designs, the ‘George and Elizabeth Gow’ built in 1939 as the Liverpool Class and funded through a legacy for Mrs E.L. Gow. She had 24 years of Service mainly at Aberdeen and the last two years as a relief boat.  The photo shows the George and Elizabeth Gow under construction.

Two others were built as Watson Class Lifeboats. The first built in 1945 was the ‘Field Marshall and Mrs Smuts’ through a donation from the South Africa Branch of the RNLI.  She had 34 years of service at Beaumaris and as a relief boat.  The second ‘Watson’ was built in 1949 and called ‘Glencoe- Glasgow’ from a Legacy of Mrs Lily Glen from Glasgow.  She saw 30 years service in 2 Lifeboat stations, Buckie and Portavogie.  Like the others she also served as a relief boat.

In addition to the newly built Lifeboats Morgan Giles also carried out a number of overhauls and repairs to boats stationed around our coast and included those from Weymouth, Torbay and Plymouth in addition to the Teignmouth Boat.  There is also a record in the Job Book of a repair to a Belgium Lifeboat the ARB MINISTRE LIPPENS in 1944. Although not designed and built by Morgan Giles she has been included in this section for prosperity.