A newly updated and expanded second edition of Bembridge Lifeboat Station has been published, bringing together almost 160 years of lifesaving history in a 176-page volume packed with colour and black and white photographs.
Written and self-published by former Bembridge Lifeboat Coxswain Martin Woodward, the 2026 edition traces the history of the station from its foundation in 1867 through to the present day.
The enlarged second edition – following on from the first some 10 years ago – includes additional photographs of today’s lifeboat crews and lifeboats, as well as a selection of drone images showcasing Bembridge Lifeboat Station and the surrounding area.
Martin retired as Coxswain of Bembridge Lifeboat in 2003 after reaching the upper age limit, having served as a crew member since the 1960s. A professional diver by trade, his career has included deep diving in the North Sea and Middle East oilfields. He remains involved in wreck and archaeological diving projects around the world and owns the Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum on the Isle of Wight.
The book offers readers an insight into the station’s long history, covering both its triumphs and tragedies, while celebrating the dedication of Bembridge’s volunteer lifeboat crews, their supporters and their families.
Published in June 2026 following the discontinuation of the RNLI’s official Station History book series, the new edition has been independently produced by Martin in partnership with Coco Design Co Publishing.
Copies are currently available from a number of Isle of Wight retailers, including the Co-Op on Lane End Road in Bembridge, around 400 metres from the lifeboat station, as well as other Island shops.
The book can also be purchased online through Isle of Wight Books, with availability through Amazon via Ryde Bookshop and the Bembridge RNLI shop expected soon.
Martin says he hopes the publication will preserve the remarkable story of Bembridge Lifeboat Station and the generations of volunteers who have served the Isle of Wight community and beyond since 1867.
