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
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was withdrawn, and Aberystwyth became the first RNLI lifeboat station to change from offshore to solely inshore lifeboats.[10]
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
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
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
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]
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