COASTAL SEARCH AND RESCUE SINCE 1864

SAVING LIVES ALONG THE COAST
Coastal search and rescue services since 1864
HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPS
Your support allows us to provide a life saving coastal rescue service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
KEEPING HERITAGE ALIVE
A unique collection of artefacts that recreate the dramatic history of the TVLB and our coastal rescues from our formation in 1864
SEE FOR YOURSELF
Visit our free to enter, Watchouse museum which stands proudly overlooking the mouth of the Tyne.
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WELCOME TO TYNEMOUTH VOLUNTEER LIFEBRIGADE

On Call 24/7 : 365 Days of the year : Whatever the weather.

The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade is a voluntary shore based coastal search and rescue service founded in 1864. We are a Declared Facility to HM Coastguard for Rope Rescue, Water Rescue, Coastal Search and Rescue and also have advanced first aid capabilities.

SUPPORT US

There are many ways you can support us, from fundraising and event participation to regular giving through our supporters' Honorary Membership
 
Our volunteers are on call 24-7, 365 days of the year to help people who get into in difficulty at the coast, and are North Tyneside's declared facility to HM Coastguard

THE WATCH HOUSE MUSEUM

The Museum displays artefacts, pictures and relics from old shipwrecks chronicling the history of lifesaving on our coastline since 1864. Click on the link below for more information and opening times

TVLB BRITISH WOOL GANSEY

Now for sale via our knitwear partner Jo Storie designed in Northumberland and knitted in in a small artisanal factory in Cumbria, using yarn from British farmers in Yorkshire Mill and finally embroidered in Whitley Bay

Latest news

After 24 days without any incidents, the Brigade was called out twice today, although both calls were false alarms with good intent. The first incident involved possible ordnance washed up on Whitley Bay beach, which turned out to be a weight used for fishing. The second call was regarding a group who appeared to be in danger of being cut off by the tide but were confirmed as fishermen, all of whom had safe access routes off the rocks. In both cases, members of the public took the right action by calling the Coastguard on 999 and allowing appropriate resources to be deployed to confirm if further assistance was required. Full details on our two incidents are shown below:119/23 – Sunday 3rd December 2023 – 11.06h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade to Whitley Bay beach after a member of the public found an item that they thought may be ordnance of some kind. Brigade members arrived on scene to find that the first informant had unearthed the item in full and been advised by other members of the public that the item was in fact a weight used for line fishing.Team members Heather and Marc kindly posed with the weight (as shown below!) before it was appropriately disposed of.Number of Brigade members in attendance at this incident: Five120/23 – Sunday 3rd December 2023 – 14.20h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade after a member of public contacted the Coastguard with concerns for a group of people located at the rock ends to the north of Cullercoats Bay. A Brigade member arrived on scene within 5 minutes of the call being made and confirmed that the group were fishermen, and all had safe access routes available off the rocks. The Coastguard then stood down all rescue resources and the call was put down as a false alarm with good intent.Number of Brigade members in attendance at this incident: Five See MoreSee Less
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Dave and Dave, who lead on most of the activities at our Watch House Museum, have continued their busy period with our most recent visits including:– 2344 (Longbenton) Air Cadet Squadron– Trainees from the 2023/24 cohort of the North Tyneside School-Centered Initial Teacher Training programme– Staff and students from @Cullercoats Primary Sch– Staff and students from New York Primary School – including Charlie, the grandson of one of the DavesIn addition, on Friday night our members and partners gathered for the ‘Annual Wreckage Dinner’ to commemorate the shipwrecks that led to the Brigade’s formation in 1864.Finally, on Saturday morning we welcomed St Edwards Fellwalkers to the museum for a First Aid session led by Becky, our Honorary Medical Officer, with help from Col & Harry from our Rescue Team.It’s been a great month for use of the museum and we’ve very grateful for everyone who’s visited, and our fabulous team that have facilitated the different events.If you’d like to discuss an event to be held at the museum, or wish to arrange a visit or tour, please e-mail watchhouse@tvlb.org See MoreSee Less
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our history

The Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) is the oldest and one of only 3 remaining active Volunteer Life Brigades in the UK. The TVLB was formed following the tragic loss of 32 souls from the stricken ships of the S.S.Stanley and the schooner Friendship on 24th November 1864 at the Black Middens rocks at Tynemouth.