The Mumbles Lifeboat Station

Last updated

The Mumbles Lifeboat Station
Mumbles Lifeboat Station (geograph 5475191).jpg
New Mumbles Lifeboat Station, opened in 2014
Wales relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Swansea, Wales
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationPier Road, Mumbles, Swansea, UK. SA3 4EN
Country Wales, UK
Coordinates 51°34′11″N3°58′27″W / 51.5698°N 3.9741°W / 51.5698; -3.9741
Opened1835 (taken over by RNLI - 1863)
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The previous Mumbles Lifeboat Station, used from 1922 to 2014 Mumbles slipway.jpg
The previous Mumbles Lifeboat Station, used from 1922 to 2014

The Mumbles Lifeboat Station (based in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales) opened in 1835 with a lifeboat that was funded and managed by Swansea Harbour Trustees and was known as Swansea Lifeboat Station. [1] The station was taken over by the RNLI in 1863 and moved to Mumbles in 1866. The station only officially became The Mumbles Lifeboat Station in 1904.

Contents

The station currently operates a Tamar-class lifeboat and a D-class (IB1) lifeboat, and operates from a boathouse at the end of Mumbles Pier.

History

When the station first opened, it did not have a boathouse and the lifeboat was stored under the cliffs. In 1866 the first boathouse was built and it was replaced with a larger boathouse when a replacement lifeboat needed more room. A slipway was constructed for launching the lifeboat in 1888 and in 1897, Mumbles Railway and Pier Company constructed a new slipway for the RNLI at no cost to the institution. Another new slipway was built in 1916 and it was extended and had alterations made to it in 1922.

During a gale on Saturday, 27 January 1883, a German barque Admiral Prinz Aldabert was driven on to rocks near the Mumbles Lighthouse. Wolverhampton went out to assist and was washed on to rocks. The lifeboat broke up and four crew drowned and other members missing or seriously injured. [2]

In 1947 the lifeboat Edward, Prince of Wales and her crew of 8 were lost while assisting SS Samtampa which had run aground on Sker Point. [3]

Today

The D-class lifeboat is the main workhorse of the station, being used for more than 60 per cent of the callouts. In 2014 a new Tamar class lifeboat entered service at The Mumbles, temporarily based at Swansea Marina while a new, larger, boathouse and slipway were constructed on the end of Mumbles pier. In 2015 and 2016, Mumbles was the busiest station in Wales, launching 83 times, and was the busiest station in 2022, with 126 launches. [4]

The Mumbles Lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [5] Class
––Martha and Anne
(Swansea)		1863–186633ft Self-Righting (P&S)10 oared boat
[6]
––Wolverhampton1866–188333ft Self-Righting (P&S) [6]
229–Wolverhampton1883–189834ft 8in Self-Righting (P&S)
173–Reserve No.51898–190033ft 8in Self-Righting (P&S)
436– James Stevens No. 12 1900–190335ft Self-Righting (P&S) James Stevens Lifeboats
265–Reserve No.3A1903–190537ft 2in Self-Righting (P&S)Previously Quiver No.1 at Margate
535–Charlie Medland1905–1924 43ft Watson
678–Edward, Prince of Wales1924–1947 45ft Watson
849–William Gammon - Manchester and District XXX1947–1974 46ft 9in Watson
940– Pentland
(Civil Service No.31) 		1974–1985 47ft Watson
109647-005The Ethel Anne Measures1985–2006 Tyne
112747-019Babs & Agnes Robertson2006–2014 Tyne
130716-27Roy Barker IV2014– Tamar [7]

Inshore Lifeboats

Op. No.NameIn service [5] ClassComments
D-44Unnamed1965–1972 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-199Unnamed1972–1986 D-class (RFD PB16)
D-319Unnamed1986–1994 D-class (EA16)
D-463Nellie Grace Hughes1994–2004 D-class (EA16)
D-623Peterborough Beer Festival II2004–2013 D-class (IB1)
D-761Mark Lott2013– D-class (IB1)
  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.

Station Honours

The following are awards made to the crew of Mumbles Lifeboat Station [8]

William John Gammon, Coxswain - 1944
John Bevan, Master of the schooner Gower - 1833
William Evans -1835
John Reeve, Master of Schooner Wave - 1838
Captain Thomas Jones - 1839
Captain John Howell - 1839
Captain Charles Sutton - 1839
Captain Joseph Foley - 1839
Arthur Rees - 1839
Lewis Jenkins - 1839
Captain Joseph Foley (Second service clasp) - 1840
Coxswain Jenkin Jenkins - 1883
Lionel Derek Scott, Coxswain - 1964
Lionel Derek Scott BEM, Coxswain (Second service clasp) - 1971
William John Gammon, Coxswain - 1941
Robert Trevor Williams, Mechanic - 1941
William Gilbert Davies, Mechanic
Thomas John Ace, Bowman - 1944
Lionel Derek Scott, Coxswain - 1968
W Davies, Second Coxswain - 1964
Mechanic J Gammon - 1964
W Tucker, Assistant Mechanic - 1964
J Bailey, Signalman - 1964
K Kostromin - 1964
G Parsons - 1964
H Randall - 1964
J Whitford - 1964
Alan Richards Jones, Helmsman - 1971
Peter Allan Algie, crew member - 1971
Anthony David Lewis, crew member - 1971
Lionel Derek Scott BEM, Coxswain - 1981
Anthony David Lewis, Helmsman - 1983
W Clements - 1973
for the bravest act of life-saving in 1944
William John Gammon, Coxswain - 1944
R J Gammon, Mechanic - 1948
Lionel Derek Scott, Coxswain - 1970 [9]
Capt. Peter Royall Griffiths, DLA - 2009 [10]
Coxswain - 1874
Lionel Derek Scott BEM, Coxswain - 1980

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenby Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of Wales

Tenby Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales that has been situated to the east of the town since 1852, three generations having been built; the original and updates in 1905 and 2005. The station currently houses two lifeboats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station, England

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston – two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cromer Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Norfolk, England

Cromer Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Cromer in the English county of Norfolk. The station operates two lifeboats – one for inshore work and the other for offshore work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lizard Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Cornwall, England

The Lizard Lifeboat Station refers to several Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat stations located on the Lizard in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The first was established at the southernmost point of the peninsula in 1859. Since then successive stations have all been in operation at different locations on The Lizard. The current station is located at Kilcobben Cove 0.5 mi (0.80 km) east of the village of Lizard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Norfolk, UK

Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in the town of Wells-next-the-Sea in the English county of Norfolk. The station, run by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), operates both inshore and offshore lifeboats. The inshore boat is a D-class (IB1) lifeboat named Peter Wilcox (D-707), whilst the offshore lifeboat is Shannon-class 13-46 named Duke of Edinburgh . The station boathouse is located at the beach on the western side of Wells Harbour mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southend-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

The Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station is a lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea in the English county of Essex, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) since 1879.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angle Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales

Angle Lifeboat Station, Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales, first opened in 1868 after a request from the local Coastguard for a lifeboat station to be opened within the Milford Haven Waterway. Originally called Milford Lifeboat Station, in 1892 the name was officially changed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weymouth Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of England, UK

Weymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Weymouth in Dorset, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. Since 2002 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salcombe Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of Devon in the UK

Salcombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Salcombe, Devon in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. The Salcombe Lifeboat has twice capsized, in 1916 with the loss of 13 lives, and in 1983 with no loss of life. Since 2008 the station has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Sennen Cove, United Kingdom

Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations for the sea around Land's End, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed at Sennen Cove in 1853. Since 2009 it has operated a Tamar-class all weather boat (ALB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torbay Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishguard Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Fishguard Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in West Sussex, England

Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea in the English county of West Sussex. It underwent extensive re-development in 2010 with a new purpose built boathall to accommodate its new Tamar-class all-weather lifeboat (AWB). It operates two lifeboats, the Tamar-class Enid Collett and the D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat Joan Woodland (D-784).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Davids Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

St Davids Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station. It was opened in 1869 and to date has been involved in saving over 360 lives at sea in more than 420 launches. The station operates both an all-weather (ALB) and an inshore (ILB) lifeboat.

Holyhead Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal town of Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. It is one of the three oldest lifeboat stations situated on the North Wales coast, a disused building of which houses the Holyhead Maritime Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moelfre Lifeboat Station</span>

Moelfre Lifeboat Station is located in the village of Moelfre, Anglesey. A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1848 by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barmouth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales

Barmouth Lifeboat Station is located in Barmouth, a town at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach river in Gwynedd, Wales. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swanage Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Dorset, England

Swanage Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located on Peveril Point in the town of Swanage in Dorset, England. It operates two lifeboats, the Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat 13-13 George Thomas Lacy and the D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB) Roy Norgrove (D-884).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrow Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Cumbria, England

Barrow Lifeboat Station is located on Roa Island, near the town of Barrow in Furness, formerly part of Lancashire, but now in Westmorland and Furness. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1864.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Lancashire, England

Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.

References

  1. ↑ "Mumbles Lifeboat - History" . Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Severe Gale And Loss Of Life". The Cornishman. No. 238. 1 February 1883. p. 5.
  3. ↑ "BBC News: Wales: Tribute for 1947 Mumbles disaster". 23 April 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "RNLI crews saved 73 lives at sea during 2016". BBC News. 2 April 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  6. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  7. ↑ "New era as £2.7m Mumbles lifeboat makes its bow". Wales Online. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "The Mumbles' Station history". RNLI. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.