South Shields lifeboat, the Bedford, restored by maritime trust

Constructed in 1886, The Bedford was the last lifeboat to be built by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution - now the Tyne Lifeboat Society.

She was launched on 55 occasions between 1887 and 1937 and is of great historical significance to the maritime heritage of South Shields.

The Bedford was built in 1886 by Lancelot Lambert at the Lawe Building Yard. It was named by a Miss Bedford, who bequeathed £1,000 - about £468,900 in today’s money- to the Lifeboat Society Trustees for a lifeboat to be named in memory of her brother, Benjamin, who was an engineer with the Tyne Improvement Commission.

The Bedford in its South Shields heyday getting ready to be launched (Image: SOUTH TYNESIDE LIBRARIES)

The Bedford takes part in lifeboat day in the early1900s in South Shields Harbour (Image: SOUTH TYNESIDE LIBRARIES)

Originally stationed at the coble landing in South Shields, the 133 year-old, boat left the town in 1968 when a home was found for her at a museum in Devon. The boat later moved to Suffolk and then to Scotland.

In 2017 the Bedford was saved and brought back to Tyneside by a band of local businesses.

Over the last four years, the 33 foot boat has been lovingly restored by the North East Maritime Trust (NEMT) with expert assistance from AkzoNobel’s yacht coatings division based out of Felling, Gateshead.

Stan Grey, far left, with Alan Bolam, Harry Chamberlin, Dave Parker and Richard Branson discussing the replacement of the keel section (Image: NORTH EAST MARITIME TRUST)

Their analysis was crucial in establishing the original colour that the vessel was painted, as well as revealing a hitherto unknown layer of gold leaf.

Dave Parker of NEMT said: “Over the years, the boat was painted a number of times and the original colour of the hull was visibly lost in the mists of time.

“The analysis carried out by AkzoNobel allowed us to establish without any doubt the beautiful true light blue shade that it was first coated with.

“Even more excitingly, the analysis also revealed a strip of gold leaf around the gunwale that no one had realised was there.

“They were both crucial bits of information that have allowed us to make the boat’s restoration as historically accurate as possible.”

He added: "AkzoNobel's support was integral to the success of the project - without their support the restoration process would have been a much harder task.”

A tight fit into the unit for storage before South Tyneside Borough Council allocate a final exhibition location (Image: NORTH EAST MARITIME TRUST)

As well as analysis and expertise, AkzoNobel also donated a range of its premium coatings to the NEMT, including Interfill 830, a high strength and impact resistant epoxy, and a new topcoat system from its International range, One UP and Toplac Plus.

Read about previous Objects of the Week with a South Tyneside link here:

• Wouldhave could have, but who took the credit for North East invention?
• The disco dance champion who has his own blue plaque at former North East nightclub
• The heroic wartime deeds of the ‘bloke with the donk’ who 'knew no fear'

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Jody Graham, technical advisor at AkzoNobel’s yacht coatings team added: “The Bedford first took to the waters at almost exactly the same time we first started making marine paint at our base in Felling over 140 years ago.

“So, when we were contacted by NEMT, we jumped at the chance to help with the project.

“We were delighted to be able to settle the debate around the vessel’s original colours by analysing paint samples in our lab, as well as providing the products that have ensured The Bedford has been restored to all its former glory.”

The Bedford has now been put into safe storage until a permanent location is found for public viewing.