Grimsby Coxwain Richard Elijah ‘Dick’ Britton c1900.

Photo reproduced here with the kind permissions of Alan Petherbridge and Trevor Ekins. Richard Elijah Britton (known as Dick), coxswain of the Grimsby lifeboat, who lived at 137 Albert Street, carried out many rescues in difficult circumstances. He was formerly second coxwain of the Spurn lifeboat. He was also a Sunday School teacher in the Salvation Army for 23 years. Richard was also part of the ‘Songster Brigade’ of the lifeboat crew and inshore fishermen. Richard Elijah Britton was born in Lexden, near Brightlingsea, Essex in 1873. In 1881, he was living with his parents Richard Britton (born in Thorington, Suffolk) and Sarah Britton (born in Brightlingsea) at 164 Guildford Street, Clee with Weelsby. Richard Elijah Britton married Helena Alberta Phillips in Grimsby on 26th April 1894. They had a daughter, Emily Augusta, in 1896 who died in 1900. They had another daughter, Dorothy Mabel, in 1902 who died at 8 months old. They had a third daughter, Minnie, who was born in 1910 and died at one month old. Richard Elijah Britton died on 22nd February 1923, aged 49 years. Almost 700 people attended his funeral service at the Salvation Army Citadel, Duncombe Street. Helena Alberta Britton died on 22nd November 1951. She had still been living at 137 Albert Street. Richard and Helena are buried in Scartho Road Cemetery, Grimsby. Note: REB’s sister, Mrs Bridges, was wife of Mr. F. Bridges, foreman on the ‘Island’, Royal Dock. Note: REB owned ‘The Rock of Ages’ fishing boat.