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Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 52°24′32″N 4°05′20″W / 52.40878°N 4.08893°W / 52.40878; -4.08893
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Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station at South Marine Terrace
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is located in Wales
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressSouth Marine Terrace
Town or cityAberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 1JY
CountryWales, UK
Coordinates52°24′32″N 4°05′20″W / 52.40878°N 4.08893°W / 52.40878; -4.08893
Opened1843, RNLI 1862
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Aberystwyth RNLI Lifeboat Station

Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is located at South Marine Terrace, in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, which sits on Cardigan Bay, on the west coast of Wales.

A lifeboat was first placed at Aberystwyth in 1843. Management of the station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1862.

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. The station also has a smaller Arancia-class Inshore lifeboat, Wren (A-78).[1]

History

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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. No records exist of any service carried out.[2]

It is said that there were calls for a lifeboat service at Aberystwyth, after the wreck of the Aquila on 19 February 1861, whilst on passage from Llanelli to Aberdovey.[3][4]

In 1862, the RNLI took over the station, completing a chain of RNLI stations along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Strumble Head to the Llŷn Peninsula. A new 32-foot 10-oared self-righting 'puling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed at the station, and named Evelyn Wood.[2][5][6]

1875 Lifeboat House on Queen's Road

The first lifeboat house was built on Victoria terrace, near to the Glengower Hotel today. It cost £125-5s-6d. In 1875, a new boathouse was constructed on Queens Road, at a cost of £250. This was later used as a BBC studio between 1990 and 2000, and then a store for Ceredigion County Council. Since 2020, it has been used by Ceredigion Archives, with regulated temperature and humidity, following a grant from the Welsh Government.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

In 1964, the Liverpool-class lifeboat Aguila Wren (ON 892) was withdrawn, and Aberystwyth became the first RNLI lifeboat station to change from offshore to solely inshore lifeboats.[10]

Aberystwyth's Atlantic 75-class RNLB Enid Mary (B-704)
Talus MB-4H Launching Tractor

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.[11][12]

Visitor access

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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]

Awards

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A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service to the RNLI.[5]

  • 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.

Aberystwyth lifeboats

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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.[10][15][16][17]

All-weather lifeboats (ALBs)

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ON[a] Name In service[18] Class Comments
– Unnamed 1843–1862 27-foot Pulling (6 oars) Independent lifeboat under Harbourmaster's control
Pre-384 Evelyn Wood 1862–1876 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) First RNLI lifeboat,(10 oars)
Pre-573 Lady Haberfield 1876–1881 35-foot Self-righting (P&S)
Pre-653 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
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats (ILBs)

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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 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-704 Enid Mary 1994–2007 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-822 Spirit of Friendship 2007–2023 B-class (Atlantic 85)
A-73 Unnamed 2011–2012 Arancia
A-78 Wren 2012– Arancia
B-937 Florence and Ernest Bowles 2023– B-class (Atlantic 85)

Launching Vehicles

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Op. No.[b] Reg No. Class In Service[1] Comments
T41 JXR 66 Case LA 1948–1953
T57 NYE 351 Fowler Challenger III 1953–1964
TW03 RLJ 367R Talus MB-764 County 1992–1996
TW40 P472 PUJ Talus MB-764 County 1996–2002
TW54Hc DU02 WEJ Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2002–2009
TW46Hb V938 EAW Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk1.5) 2009–2013 The first MkII Bendy
TW28H N671 UAW Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk3) 2013–2014
TW19Hc J120 VNT Talus MB4H Hydrostatic (Mk2) 2014–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ a b "Aberystwyth's station history". Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. No. 23894. London. 30 March 1861. col E, p. 10.
  4. ^ "Aquila shipwreck site 1861, Aberystwyth". History Points. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station History". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  6. ^ "History Points – Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Old Aberystwyth lifeboat station". History Points. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  8. ^ "A Great Gale – Many lifeboats at work". Western Mail. British Newspaper Archive. 29 December 1900. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Lifeboats get gallant crew off submarine". Lancashire Daily Post. British Newspaper Archive. 5 February 1946. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Peoples Collection Wales". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  11. ^ "RNLI lifeboat's Welsh church blessing is UK first". walesonline. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Blessing in church for rescue craft | The Times". The Times. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  14. ^ Lifeboat, Aberystwyth. "Visit Us". www.aberystwythlifeboat.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  15. ^ "A History of Courage". 22 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Lifeboat Landmarks". 29 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Inshore rescue – 3 miles from the sea". 5 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  18. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–120.
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