Scarborough RNLI Mourn Loss of Second Former Coxswain

Monday, 28 February 2022 17:16

By Matthew Pells

Two former Scarborough lifeboat coxswains have died on the same day.

The lifeboat house’s RNLI flag is at half mast in honour of Stuart Ogden and Richard Constantine, who both passed away in St Catherine’s hospice on Friday.

Both men were awarded an MBE for their services to the RNLI.

Richard’s death was announced on Saturday and Stuart’s today.

Lifeboat operations manager (LOM) Andy Volans said:

“After hearing the sad news of Richard’s death on Saturday, we are doubly saddened to learn that we have also lost another former coxswain, Stuart. Both men served the station and town extremely well over three decades. We extend our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to their families.”

Stuart, who was coxswain from 1987-94, was succeeded by Richard, who served in the role from 1994-2003.

Stuart was appointed coxswain of the Amelia lifeboat in the spring of 1987, after four years as second coxswain. He was still at the helm four years later when the Amelia was replaced by the Mersey-class Fanny Victoria Wilkinson & Frank Stubbs.

On 28 and 29 October 1991, the new lifeboat, with Stuart in charge, teamed up with Filey lifeboat to spend all night searching for a missing fishing boat. In choppy seas and a fresh south-easterly wind, the two rescue craft looked in vain between 8.20pm and 5.30am, when they returned to base for the boats to refuel and the crews to eat.

Stuart enlisted the help of several trawler skippers and broadened the search. With Stuart as on-scene commander, 21 vessels, now including Whitby lifeboat, conducted a systematic search. Sadly, an uncharted wreck was eventually found on the sea bed. The Scarborough lifeboat picked up a few police divers and took them to the scene.

The RNLI’s chief of operations, Commodore George Cooper, sent Stuart a formal letter of appreciation in recognition of “the excellent way in which you led this long and intensive search.”

Former LOM Colin Lawson joined the inshore lifeboat crew in 1978 and was persuaded to double up, becoming a member of both crews, by Stuart in 1983. After a difficult start, they became firm friends.

Colin recalls:

“He could be severe, he took no prisoners and you had to match up to his exacting standards whether you liked it or not. He revamped the whole thinking about the offshore boat and crew training became a serious issue under Stuart,”

“Just before the Fanny Victoria Wilkinson & Frank Stubbs went, we took him for a final spin and he took the wheel just as though he had never left it.”

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