| Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Aberystwyth, Ceredigion | |
| General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales |
| Country | Wales, UK |
| Coordinates | 52°24′32″N 4°05′20″W / 52.40878°N 4.08893°W |
| Opened | 1861 (independent from 1843) |
| Owner |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, West Wales. It was established in 1861, but there has been a lifeboat serving the town since 1843.
In 2023, the station received a new B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Florence and Ernest Bowles (B-937), which is launched by submersible tractor.[1]
The station also has an Arancia IRB as support for the larger Atlantic 85 lifeboat.
Aberystwyth's Atlantic 75 RNLB Enid Mary (B-704)
YouTube Encyclopedic
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1/3Views:8 03130 7872 130
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Aberystwyth Lifeboat on a shout 3/5/10 Part 1
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SENNEN COVE - Lifeboat callout (from alarm to launch - unedited) - 20th Nov 2011
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Aberystwyth Lifeboat on a Shout 3/5/10 Part 2
Transcription
History
The first lifeboat at Aberystwyth was a 27-foot, 6-oared boat funded by public subscription in 1843 and under the control of the harbour master. In 1861 the RNLI took over the service, completing a chain of RNLI stations along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Strumble Head to the Llŷn Peninsula.
The 10-oared Evelyn Wood was the first RNLI lifeboat.[2][3]
A severe gale on 29 December 1900 saw Coxswain David Williams launch the lifeboat to a fishing smack; in heavy seas three lifeboatmen (Jack Williams, Tom Jones and J.C. Rea) were thrown overboard but were rescued by their fellow crewmen. Despite the loss of most of their oars, they managed to beach the lifeboat and hold it until the tide ebbed. In the meantime the fishermen, whose boat was wrecked on the rocks, made it safely to shore.[4]
In February 1946 Frederick Angus (ON 757) was at sea for more than 24 hours in severe weather standing by the broken-down submarine HMS Universal and helping to rescue her crew.[5]
In 1964 Aberystwyth was the first RNLI lifeboat station to change from offshore to solely inshore lifeboats.[6]
The Arancia IRB was established at Aberystwyth in 2011 and was dedicated in Holy Trinity Church, it is believed to be the first and only lifeboat to be dedicated within a church.[7][8]
Aberystwyth Lifeboats
Aberystwyth has been served by a number of lifeboats in its more than 150 years of operation by the RNLI and more than 170 years in total.[6][9][10][11]
All-weather lifeboats (ALBs)
| ON[a] | Name | In service[12] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Unnamed | 1843–1862 | 27-foot Pulling (6 oars) | Independent lifeboat under Harbourmaster's control |
| – | Evelyn Wood | 1862–1876 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) | First RNLI lifeboat,(10 oars) |
| – | Lady Haberfield | 1876–1881 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| – | Lady Haberfield | 1881–1887 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 128 | Elizabeth Lloyd | 1887–1906 | 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) | |
| 562 | John and Naomi Beattie | 1906–1932 | 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) | (10 oars) |
| 757 | Frederick Angus | 1932–1949 | 35ft 6in Self-righting motor | |
| 745 | Lady Harrison | 1949–1951 | 35ft 6in Self-righting motor | |
| 892 | Aguila Wren | 1951–1964 | Liverpool |
- All Weather Lifeboat withdrawn in 1964
Inshore lifeboats (ILBs)
| Op. No.[b] | Name | In service[1] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-1 | Unnamed | 1963 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-19 | Unnamed | 1964 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-30 | Unnamed | 1965–1967 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-140 | Unnamed | 1967–1969 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-28 | Unnamed | 1969–1970 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| D-186 | Unnamed | 1970–1983 | D-class (RFD PB16) | |
| C-509 (D-509) |
Oats | 1983–1993 | C-class | Originally D-509 until reclassified as a C-class |
| B-590 | Wolverson X-Ray | 1993–1994 | Atlantic 21 | |
| B-704 | Enid Mary | 1994–2007 | Atlantic 75 | |
| B-822 | Spirit of Friendship | 2007–2023 | Atlantic 85 | |
| A-73 | Unnamed | 2011–2012 | Arancia | |
| A-78 | Wren | 2012– | Arancia | |
| B-937 | Florence and Ernest Bowles | 2023– | Atlantic 85 |
Launching Vehicles (Atlantic-class)
| Op. No.[a] | Reg No. | Class | In Service [1] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TW03 | RLJ 367R | Talus MB-764 County | 1992–1996 | |
| TW40 | P472 PUJ | Talus MB-764 County | 1996–2002 | |
| TW54H | DU02 WEJ | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk2 | 2002–2009 | |
| TW46H | V938 EAW | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk1.5 | 2009–2013 | The first MkII Bendy |
| TW28H | N671 UAW | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk3 | 2013–2014 | |
| TW19H | J120 VNT | Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk2 | 2014– |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
Awards
A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service to the RNLI.[2]
- 1866 Silver medal to Watkin Lewis for his part in the rescue of the crew of schooner Rebecca
- 1954 Thanks of the Institute inscribed on Vellum to Coxswain Baden P Davies for the rescue of crew from fishing vessel Lindy Lou
- 1970 Thanks of the institute inscribed on Vellum to A Blair, M Nichol and K Stone for the rescue of a bather
- 1976 Bronze medal to Alan Blair for the rescue of trapped crew of capsized motor cruiser Annabel II
- 1978 Framed letter of appreciation to Robert Gorman for the rescue of the crews of two boats
- 1985 Letter of appreciation to Helmsman Alan Blair for the rescue of a young bather
- 1991 Bronze medals to C-class Helmsman Peter Heading and crew member Robert Gorman, skipper of fishing vessel Seren-y-mor for the rescue of yacht Otter's solo crew member. Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to crew member Michael Harris for his part in the same service. Framed letters of appreciation to David Davies and Martin Porter, lifeboat crew, and Alan Blair, Brian Slack, Bryan Pugh-Jones and Sandro James, members of the Seren-Y-Mor crew. The Ralph Glister Award was awarded to the crew for this service.
Visitor access
This station is classed as an RNLI "Observe" lifeboat station; it welcomes visitors via appointment.[13]
Groups (schools, clubs, organisations) who wish to visit the station can request a tour and presentation via the stations website.[14]
See also
- List of RNLI stations
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
References
- ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- ^ a b "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station History". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "History Points – Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "A Great Gale – Many lifeboats at work". Western Mail. British Newspaper Archive. 29 December 1900. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Lifeboats get gallant crew off submarine". Lancashire Daily Post. British Newspaper Archive. 5 February 1946. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Peoples Collection Wales". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "RNLI lifeboat's Welsh church blessing is UK first". walesonline. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "Blessing in church for rescue craft | The Times". The Times. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ "A History of Courage". 22 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Lifeboat Landmarks". 29 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Inshore rescue – 3 miles from the sea". 5 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
- ^ "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- ^ Lifeboat, Aberystwyth. "Visit Us". www.aberystwythlifeboat.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
External links
 RNLI lifeboat stations in Wales | |
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(Stations are ordered in clockwise order around the coast) |
This page was last edited on 9 April 2024, at 20:37