The centenary for 1990 was the bicentenary of the launch of the original lifeboat in 1790.

Henry Greathead (1757-1816), boat builder of South Shields, designed a lifeboat which was built by public subscription and presented to the Duke of Northumberland who stationed it at North Shields. The boat was 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, required a crew of twelve men and rowed easily in either direction. It had 5 oars a side and was steered with a long oar at either end. It was very buoyant and almost impossible to capsize as it was lined inside and outside with cork. 20 persons could be saved at a time. This was the first true lifeboat and became the prototype for other lifeboats. Not a single crew member lost his life during its 40 years of service.