Three lifeboats at Gloucester Docks

Three preserved lifeboats on display at Gloucester Docks on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, see below for a short history of each boat.

RNLB Richard Vernon and Mary Garforth of Leeds was built in 1957 and served at Angle and Whitlow until 1988 when she was retired and sold [1].

RNLB Dorothy and Philip Constant was built in 1962 and like the first boat also served as a lifeboat until 1988. In it's RNLI career it was stationed at Shoreham, Oban and Relief [2].

RNLB Robert Patton (later renamed The Always Ready) is the oldest of the trio of lifeboats, dating from 1933. It served at Runswick until 1954 until being sold. First the boat served as a pilot at Sharpness Docks before entering private ownership [3].

[1] Nicholas Leach and Tony Denton, Lifeboat Directory (Ships in Focus, 2013) p. 72
[2] Ibid p. 78
[3] Ibid p. 43