A LIFEBOAT crew is to be based on water next month to prepare for the demolition of its lifeboat house.

The RNLI Scarborough lifeboat house will close on Monday, December 8 - coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the capsize in 1954 of the lifeboat ECJR, near the harbour mouth while returning from service.

Two Scarborough RNLI lifeboats will be moored in the harbour while the boat house is knocked down to make way for a new one, and temporary cabins will be placed in a corner of the harbour for the crew to use as an office and changing room.

Coxswain Tom Clark and other RNLI personnel will mark the station closure with a short service at 3pm, and the crew will lay a wreath in the harbour mouth in memory of the three crew members who died in 1954: coxswain John Sheader, Francis Bayes and John Cammish.

A bagpiper will play a lament as one of the longest serving crew members, Peter Billingsley, lowers the RNLI flag. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Lifeboat operations manager John Senior said: “It will be a service of commemoration for everyone who hasn’t returned safely to shore.

“The coxswain and crew very much look forward to seeing you on the day and thank you all for your support for the RNLI and the Scarborough lifeboat and crew.”