Duddon Inshore Rescue was formed by a group of volunteers in 1969 after a number of deaths in the Duddon Estuary highlighted the need for a water and sand-based search and rescue team in the Duddon Estuary.

Land was donated to the Inshore Rescue team so it could erect its boathouse in 1969, ensuring ease of access to the water and a local base for storage of equipment and training purposes.

The Mail has frequently reported on the activities of the team, which is based at Askam.

The Mail:

In August 1988, it was reported that Duddon Inshore Rescue had a new £5,000 lifeboat.

The inflatable boat was the third since the rescue organisation had been launched 19 years previously.

Secretary Graham Hopkins told The Mail: “It’s a D class lifeboat made in South Wales and is similar to the one we have now but more seaworthy. It’s the boat that the RNLI use and is tried and tested.

“We like to keep up with the times and in this boat we will be able to venture out a bit further.”

The Mail:

The idea of buying a new boat had been first aired 18 months previously and the team had been able to buy it with support from the local community.

Five founder members of Duddon Inshore Rescue were honoured in 1989 at the team’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

A surprise presentation of engraved plaques was made to Bernard McNamee, who has been chairman for 20 years; Jim Bell, Bill Jinks, Dennis Brown and former village doctor Robert McGranthin.

The Mail:

The same year British Gas gifted the team £1,300 towards its running costs.

Presenting the cheque, Sid Bennett, British Gas North Western’s district engineer, said: “When we were laying a pipeline across the estuary to Millom it was a great comfort to know that the Duddon Inshore Rescue was there if anything went wrong.”

The Mail:

In 1993 the Rev Danny Sanderson, vicar of Askam and Ireleth, conducted a service to bless Duddon Inshore Rescue’s new £9,000 rigid inflatable.