Susan Marlborough, who is originally from Whitby but now lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire, has given a mahogany cabinet from the Rohilla to the museum

The ship’s bell was found in the home of an Aislaby family this summer, then the two foot whistle was donated last month.

The Rohilla ran aground 94 years ago on the rocks at Saltwick Nab and one of the RNLI’S most dramatic rescues followed. The William Riley lifeboat was carried over land in treacherous weather conditions and lowered 200ft down a cliff to try and reach the boat.

Despite the valiant efforts of the volunteer lifeboat men 92 people lost their lives in the tragedy.

The corner cabinet will now take its place alongside the recently found Rohilla bell and whistle in the museum which is due to undergo a long awaited refurbishment.

The cabinet, which is made of mahogany, has a glass front and a small wooden plaque inside which has been engraved with the words SS Rohilla.

It is about 18 inches tall by 14 inches wide.

Pete Thomson, press officer at Whitby Lifeboat Station, recently visited Tall Ships at Liverpool where he was helping set up an RNLI souvenir gift stall with wife Alison.

“I bumped into a woman totally by chance, she spotted my Whitby lifeboat top and asked if I was from Whitby.

“We got chatting and she told me she had a cabinet from the Rohilla at home and that it had been passed down in her family for generations.

“I just couldnt believe it – what an incredible co-incidence.” he said.

Mrs Marlborough had had the cabinet tucked away in her attic but said she is glad it has found its way back.

She told Pete that as she has no children she had no-one to pass it down to.

Her family still live in Whitby.

“Sue knew the basic story about the Rohilla and I told her the full story about what happened on the night and I am going to send her a book so she can read all about it.

“I am just so pleased that the cabinet has come back to Whitby and now can be viewed by visitors.” said Mr Thomson.

He said when the Rohilla went down in 1914 there will have been a bit of a free- for-all that night in Whitby, with people taking whatever they could get hold of to keep as a memento.

As the Rohilla was a hospital ship it would have had state rooms and dining rooms, which is probably where the wooden cabinet came from.

The cabinet will now take its place among other Rohilla memorabilia at the museum on Pier Road.

“All the publicity generated from the William Riley row seems to have done us the world of good. Word has spread far and wide and because of this people have come forward with these amazing donations.

“It’s incredible. I’ve even been given a key for the commanding officers cupboard from a local woman.”

Anyone who has anything they think might be of interest to the Lifeboat Museum is asked to call Pete on (01947) 606094.