Charles Dibdin (ON552) was built in 1903 by the Thames Ironworks Company and entered service as the Deal lifeboat, later moving to the Walmer station. She is documented as saving nearly four hundred lives in one hundred and eighty six launches.
Bill Adams was the coxswain of the Charles Dibdin until 1926 and the handover was captured by the British Pathe News service.
For one rescue in January 1919 the President of the United States presented Bill with a gold watch and chain for saving twenty-nine of the crew of the S.S. Piave. If you know the current whereabouts of this watch do please use the contact us page to get in touch.
After leaving RNLI service in 1932 she was converted to a motor vessel and gave assistance to the Admiralty many times during WW2, in her saloon there is a brass plaque with the words “Dunkirk 1940”.
Today the Charles Dibdin is berthed at Portland Marina and is used for sidescan sonar survey and wreck research.
The vessel retains a very contemporary atmosphere and is available for film work. Please use the contact us page to get in touch.