RNLI tribute statues granted planning

They will be installed in Salcombe and Kingsbridge.

South Hams District Council has granted planning permission to install two statues in Kingsbridge and Salcombe to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Salcombe RNLI.

A small statue measuring 1.3m high, 1.3m wide and 0.8m deep, will sit atop a stone plinth with a commemorative steel plaque, in Cross Gardens, off Onslow Road, in Salcombe.

A second statue measuring 1.3m high, 1.3m wide and 0.8m deep with a bonze cast replica of the first lifeboat (The Rescue) sent on a carved Portland stone sea, on top – is set to be installed at The Quay car park in Kingsbridge.

Both schemes had to go before council planners as the land is owned by the district council, but they gained unanimously approval.

Speaking after the meeting, Andrew Arthur, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Salcombe RNLI, said: “We are delighted that planning permission has been granted for the two sculptures in Kingsbridge and Salcombe.

“The sculptures will depict Salcombe RNLI’s first lifeboat ‘Rescue’, and the current Tamar class lifeboat ‘The Baltic Exchange III’, illustrating where the station began and how far we’ve progressed over 150 years to where we are now.

“They will be officially unveiled on Saturday, September 21, as part of a weekend of anniversary celebrations. This year marks an important milestone in Salcombe RNLI’s lifesaving history and allows us to pay tribute to the brave and selfless volunteers both past and present who have committed their time to saving lives at sea.”

Salcombe Lifeboat station was established in 1869 following the wreck of the clipper ship Gossamer of Liverpool in December of the previous year, with the loss of 13 lives.

The Earl of Devon presented the site for a boathouse at South Sands for Salcombe RNLI and the High Sherriff of Devon, Richard Durant Esq, provided the funds for both the lifeboat and the building.

The first boat was a ten-oared, self-righter named Rescue and since then, in the following 150 years, more than 500 lives have been saved by the Salcombe RNLI.

The lifeboat has been launched 1,619 times, 1,475 people have been assisted, and 526 lives have been saved.

Planners had recommended that the application be approved, saying: “The proposals amount to sympathetic art installation to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the RNLI and is therefore of public interest and the development is in accordance with the Joint Local Plan. The application should therefore be approved.”