Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is located in Wales
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationAberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
CountryWales, UK
Coordinates52°24′32″N 4°05′20″W / 52.40878°N 4.08893°W / 52.40878; -4.08893
Opened1861 (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.

Since 2007 the station has operated an Atlantic 85-class inshore lifeboat, RNLB Spirit of Friendship (B-822),[1] launched by submersible tractor.

The station also has an Arancia IRB as support for the larger Atlantic 85-class inshore lifeboat.

Aberystwyth's Atlantic 75-class RNLB Enid Mary (B-704)
Aberystwyth's Atlantic 75-class RNLB Enid Mary (B-704)

Aberystwyth's Atlantic 75 RNLB Enid Mary (B-704)

History

The first lifeboat at Aberystwyth was a 27 ft, 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 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 in Aberystwyth in 2013 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 Class Comments
– unnamed 1843–1862 27ft Pulling (6 oars) Independent lifeboat under Harbourmaster's control
– Evelyn Wood 1862–1876 32ft Self-righting (P&S) [12]
First RNLI lifeboat,(10 oars)
– Lady Haberfield 1876–1881 35ft Self-righting (P&S) [12]
– Lady Haberfield 1881–1887 35ft Self-righting (P&S) [12]
128 Elizabeth Lloyd 1887–1906 34ft Self-righting (P&S) [12]
562 John and Naomi Beattie 1906–1932 35ft Self-righting (P&S) [12]
(10 oars)
757 Frederick Angus 1932–1949 35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class [12]
745 Lady Harrison 1949–1951 35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class [12]
892 Aguila Wren 1951–1964 Liverpool-class [12]
All Weather Lifeboat withdrawn 1964

Inshore lifeboats (ILBs)

Op. No.[b] Name In service [13] 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-class
B-704 Enid Mary 1994–2007 Atlantic 75-class
B-822 Spirit of Friendship 2007–2023 Atlantic 85-class
A-73 unnamed 2011–2012 Arancia-class
A-78 Wren 2012– Arancia-class
B-937 Florence and Ernest Bowles 2023– Atlantic 85-class
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Launching Vehicles (Atlantic-class)

Talus MB4H Launching Tractor
Op. No. In Service [13] Class Reg No. Comments
TW03 1992–1996 Talus MB-764 County RLJ 367R
TW40 1996–2002 Talus MB-764 County P472 PUJ
TW54H 2002–2009 Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk2 DU02 WEJ
TW46H 2009–2013 Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk1.5 V938 EAW The first MkII Bendy
TW28H 2013–2014 Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk3 N671 UAW
TW19H 2014– Talus MB4H Hydrostatic Mk2 J120 VNT

Awards

A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service to the RNLI.[2]

Visitor access

This station is classed as an RNLI "Observe" lifeboat station; it welcomes visitors via appointment.[14]

Groups (schools, clubs, organisations) who wish to visit the station can request a tour and presentation via the stations website.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "RNLI – Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station History". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. ^ "History Points – Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. ^ "A Great Gale – Many lifeboats at work". Western Mail. British Newspaper Archive. 29 December 1900. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Lifeboats get gallant crew off submarine". Lancashire Daily Post. British Newspaper Archive. 5 February 1946. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Peoples Collection Wales". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  7. ^ "RNLI lifeboat's Welsh church blessing is UK first". walesonline. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Blessing in church for rescue craft | The Times". The Times. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. ^ "A History of Courage". 22 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Lifeboat Landmarks". 29 May 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Inshore rescue – 3 miles from the sea". 5 June 1987. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  13. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  14. ^ "Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station". RNLI. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  15. ^ Lifeboat, Aberystwyth. "Visit Us". www.aberystwythlifeboat.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station.
RNLI Lifeboat stations in Wales
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