The Queen Victoria 1887

The second Bembridge Lifeboat arrive on station on 20^th July 1887 and was named at a launching ceremony on the 28^th by HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh. The boat was named in honour of Her Majesty on the occasion of her Silver Jubilee. The Queen had been asked to choose a place for a new boat to be stationed and she selected Bembridge.
The 35 foot "Queen Victoria" was sold out of service in 1902 to a crew member who converted her to a houseboat in Bembridge Harbour, and renamed her "The Ark".
The "Queen Victoria" has the double distinction of being the first houseboat in Bembridge harbour and the oldest surviving RNLI lifeboat in Britain.

After being acquired by the Bembridge Maritime Museum in 1990, the "Queen Victoria" has been virtually rebuilt at the Classic Boat Museum at Newport (I.o.W.) and can be seen at various fund raising events.

A charitable trust, "The Isle of Wight Historic Lifeboat Trust" is presently being formed to own and display the restored lifeboats, "Queen Victoria" and "The Langham", the latter is awaiting restoration by The Classic Boat Museum in Newport, Isle" of Wight. Another ex-Bembridge Lifeboat "The Jesse Lumb" can be seen at the Duxworth Air Museum, in a static display of WWII air-sea rescue techniques.

The RNLI is dedicated to saving life at sea and is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, please help them.

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