Cecil & Lilian Philpott ON730

The lifeboat Cecil & Lilian Philpott served at Newhaven from 1930 to 1959. During her service, she was launched 159 times and saved 99 lives. Notably, she participated in the Dunkirk evacuation, where the Newhaven lifeboat saved 51 soldiers. However, the mission nearly ended in disaster when the vessel was left stranded for four hours before returning on 3 June 1940.

In November 1940, Cecil & Lilian Philpott was rammed and nearly cut in half by the HM trawler Avanturine, but she survived the collision. Subsequently, she served in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's reserve fleet at various lifeboat stations around the coast. During this period, she was involved in 76 additional incidents and saved 49 more lives.

In 1969, Dr. Oliver Dansie purchased the vessel, renaming her Stenoa. At the time of purchase, the open boat was reported to accommodate up to 136 people on deck before stability was affected. Initially, she was powered by two petrol engines that required 22 separate operations to start. These were later replaced with two 4-cylinder Ford diesel engines, providing increased space and reliability.

For over two decades, the Dansie family has used Stenoa as a powerful and safe cruiser, navigating inland Britain as well as waters around France, Belgium, and the Channel Islands.

By the late 1990s, a new wheelhouse and spars were fitted with assistance from Mr. and Mrs. Baines. The vessel was scheduled for epoxy sheathing and a relaunch in June 2017. She was relaunched at the beginning of July 2017 and was due for four new keel bolts in winter 2017 to prepare for the 2018 Commemorative Cruise in Ipswich.