In 1861 the Whitby Lifeboat sank and took the lives of twelve men including Matthew Leadley, Robert Leadley,John Storr (Coxswain) and William Storr. This was a famous date in Whitbys RNLI history. Another rescue took place in 1932. This was a typical rescue of a fishing boat that got into trouble - not particularly remarkable. But what was interesting were the names of Leadley and Storr. These again featured - one of those rescued and one of the rescuers held these two names.
In August, 1932 the salmon coble "Susie" was fishing just outside Whitby Harbour. It was suddenly capsized and overwhelmed by a big wave. John James Storr, Robert Smith, James Russell and William Russell all were thrown into the sea.
The tide was too low to launch the motor lifeboat. So the old lifeboat the "Rachel Valentine" was taken down to the sands from the West Pier. Hundreds of visitors help push the boat.
Meanwhile fishing boats had already helped come to the rescue. Mr JT Drydens salmon coble rescued Robert Smith and James Russell. Mr M Leadley's coble rescued William Russell. The Lifeboat helped to escort these boats in.
Seventy years may have rolled by since the loss of the lifeboat in 1861. But the fishermens names still featured prominently. This is often the case. Mainprizes go far back in Scarborough with a George Mainprize in the 1700's. Robin Hood's Bay especially demonstrates this point. The Storm family go back many years. They often had family members serving on the Lifeboat. It was easy for whole families to be whipped out. Many fishing boats where owned by a family. If sunk the whole family could be whipped out in one stroke and with it the family name.
Sources
- Scarborough Evening News 26th August 1932
