Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station

Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station (Welsh: Gorsaf Bad Achub Aberystwyth) 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). History The first lifeboat at Aberystwyth was a 26-foot, 6-oared Palmer-class lifeboat, funded by the Aberystwyth Harbour Trust, and under the control of the harbour master. No records of any service carried out have been found. The boat was condemned in 1861. 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. 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 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, was placed at the station, and named Evelyn Wood. 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. 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. 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. In 1964, the Liverpool-class lifeboat Aguila Wren (ON 892) was withdrawn, and Aberystwyth became the first RNLI lifeboat station to change from offshore to solely inshore lifeboats. The Arancia IRB was placed at Aberystwyth in 2011 and was dedicated in Holy Trinity Church, believed to be the first and only lifeboat to be dedicated within a church. Visitor access This station is classed as an RNLI "Observe" lifeboat station; it welcomes visitors via appointment. Groups (schools, clubs, organisations) who wish to visit the station can request a tour and presentation via the stations website. Station honours The following are awards made at Aberystwyth. RNLI Silver Medal For swimming out to the schooner Rebecca of Bridgwater, to effect the rescue of six people, 25 March 1866, and for swimming out in rough seas to save the life of his father, 10 September 1866 Watkin Lewis – 1866 RNLI Bronze Medal For the rescue of the trapped crew of capsized motor cruiser Annabel II, 22 February 1976 Alan Blair, crew member – 1976 For the rescue of one man and saving the yacht Otter, 18 September 1990 Peter Heading, Helm – 1991 Robert James Gorman, skipper, fishing vessel Seren-y-mor – 1991 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum For the rescue of crew from fishing vessel Lindy Lou, 26 July 1954 Baden P Davies, Coxswain – 1954 For the rescue of a bather, 1 September 1970 Alan Blair – 1970 Mike Nichol – 1970 Keith Stone – 1970 For courage and seamanship, attending motor cruiser Annabel II, 22 February 1976 Tony Meyler, skipper of the Western Seas – 1976 For the rescue of one man and saving the yacht Otter, 18 September 1990 Michael Harris, crew member – 1991 For the rescue of one man and saving the yacht Otter, 18 September 1990 Peter Heading, Helm – 1991 Michael Harris, crew member – 1991 David Davies, crew member – 1991 Martin Porter, crew member – 1991 Robert James Gorman, skipper, fishing vessel Seren-y-mor – 1991 Alan Blair, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Brian Slack, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Bryan Pugh-Jones, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Sandro James, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution A member of the lifeboat crew, who put out into a south-east gale in his fishing vessel Lona, taking in tow two boats, rescuing four people, 6 December 1978. Robert James Gorman – 1978 For the rescue of one man and saving the yacht Otter, 18 September 1990 David Davies, crew member – 1991 Martin Porter, crew member – 1991 Alan Blair, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Brian Slack, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Bryan Pugh-Jones, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 Sandro James, crew of the Seren-Y-Mor – 1991 A Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution For swimming out and rescuing a young girl, 3 July 1985 Alan Blair – 1985 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. Aberystwyth Harbour Trust lifeboat Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list. Motor lifeboats 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) Launching Vehicles See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Aberystwyth RNLI Lifeboat Station