Name Priscilla MacBean

PRISCILLA MACBEAN ON655 was built in 1921 by Samuel White of Cowes, Isle of Wight. She is a single screw Self-Righting Class lifeboat, fitted with a Lister 35 BHP petrol engine, as well as with sails and oars.

She initially served at Eastbourne, East Sussex, between 1921 and 1927. Afterwards, she was transferred to Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, where she served between 1928 and 1931. The final station she served out of was at Maryport, Cumbria, between 1931 and 1934, when she came out of service. In total, she was launched 21 times and saved 25 lives.

After her service, PRISCILLA MACBEAN first went to France and then to Lake Windermere, where she became a houseboat. At some point, she was donated to the people of Eastbourne, but she was eventually left in a field where she rested for 19 years.

At some point, she was acquired by a former RNLI crewmember and moved to Hastings, where she was restored by a team of local volunteers. In 2024, she found a permanent home in the Shipwreck Museum, alongside the Cyril and Lilian Bishop.