Aberdovey Lifeboat Station

Aberdovey Lifeboat Station
Gorsaf Bad Achub Aberdyfi
Aberdovey Lifeboat Station
Aberdovey, Gwynedd
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Glandovey Terrace,, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales, LL35 0EB, UK
Coordinates	52°32′35″N4°02′44″W / 52.54319°N 4.04565°W / 52.54319; -4.04565
Opened	Harbour Auth. 1837–1853 RNIPLS 1853–1854 RNLI 1854–1931 RNLI ILB 1963–present
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Aberdovey RNLI Lifeboat Station

Aberdovey Lifeboat Station (Welsh : Gorsaf Bad Achub Aberdyfi) is located in the coastal village of Aberdyfi, on the north bank of the River Dyfi estuary, on Cardigan Bay, in the county of Gwynedd, West Wales.

A lifeboat was first placed at Aberdovey in 1837. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1853, with the RNIPLS becoming the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854. ^[1]

Since 2016, the station has operated a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Hugh Miles (B-896), launched by tractor. ^[2]

This station is classed as an RNLI "Discover" lifeboat station, which welcomes visitors normally during the summer months.

History

The first Aberdyfi lifeboat was placed on station in 1837, and managed by the Harbour Authority. Management of the station was transferred to the RNIPLS in 1853, which became the RNLI the following year. ^[3]

However, it would be another four years before a new boathouse was constructed in 1858, ready for the arrival of a new 30-foot 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (6) oars, and its carriage, in 1859. ^[4]

On 8 December 1862, crew member Owen Owen, aged 33, drowned when the lifeboat capsized whilst on exercise. ^[1]

In February 1863, David Williams was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal, for putting out to the stranded brig Friends. His crew were voted £8 reward by the Institution. In September the same year the RNLI voted to reward the crew of the lifeboat £4-10s-0d, for the rescue of six crew of the stranded barque William Bromham. ^[5]

A new larger 10-oared lifeboat was supplied to the station in 1865, after it was found that the 6-oared lifeboat wasn't ideal for the locality. The lifeboat was funded by a donation of £489-16s-8d, raised in Berkshire by Charles Stevens, Banker, and Capt. A Butler, RN. After being displayed in Reading in September 1865, the boat was transported to Aberdovey free of charge by the Great Western and Cambrian railway companies, and following a procession to the river, was duly named Royal Berkshire. ^[6]

In 1886, a building plot was bought for £150 and a new boathouse constructed for £320. ^[1]

There was a second tragedy in 1898 when crew member John Price, aged 72, lost his life trying to save people after a boating accident. His dependents were awarded £50 compensation by the RNLI's Committee of Management. ^[1]

A slipway for the lifeboat was built in 1903, at a cost of £300, to enable the lifeboat to be launched into the river.

After operating for 94 years, Aberdovey Lifeboat Station was closed in 1931. The lifeboat on station at the time of closure, George and Margaret (ON 476), was sold to the Icelandic Lifeboat Service. She was last reported in storage in Sandgerði, Iceland, in 2023. ^[1]

1960s onwards

In 1963, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI began trials of small fast Inshore lifeboats, placed at various locations around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. This quickly proved to be very successful. In 1963, there were 226 rescues or attempted rescues in the summer months, as a result of which 225 lives were saved. ^[7]

Aberdovey Lifeboat Station was reopened in 1963 at the Outward Bound Sea School, as an Inshore lifeboat station, supplied with a D-class (RFD PB16) lifeboat. In 1974, the smaller D-class lifeboat was replaced by the larger twin-engined B-class (Atlantic 21) Inshore lifeboat. ^[1]

A new boathouse was built in 1991 to house the Atlantic 21 and its launching tractor, a shop and crew facilities, and in 1995, an upper floor was built to provide a crew room, galley and store. ^[1]

From 1998 to 2016, the station operated an Atlantic 75-class inshore lifeboat, RNLB Sandwell Lifeline (B-758), launched by tractor, and making an average of 25 emergency launches a year. She replaced B-559, which was transferred to the British Virgin Islands as a rescue craft. ^[1]

In 2016, the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Hugh Miles (B-896) replaced Sandwell Lifeline. The lifeboat was funded from the legacy of Joan Miles, in memory of her late son. ^[8]

Station honours

A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service. ^{[1] [9]}

• RNLI Silver Medal

For the rescue of the crew of the brig Friends of Newport on 8 February 1863

Mr David Williams, of HM Customs, Honorary Secretary – 1863

• RNLI Bronze Medal

For the rescue of 4 from the cabin cruiser Lady Jane on 10 August 1974

David William Williams, crew member – 1974

• Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

For the rescue of 4 from the cabin cruiser Lady Jane on 10 August 1974

Anthony Mills, Helm – 1974

Andrew Coghill, crew member – 1974

• A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution

For his valuable services as a member of the crew from 1920 to 1931

Mr Ellis Williams, Bowman – 1972

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

David Eilian Williams – 2014QBH ^[10]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Aberdovey lifeboat. ^[1]

• Lost when the lifeboat capsized on exercise, 8 December 1862

Owen Owen, crew member (33)

• Died during a rescue after a boating accident, 1898

John Price, crew member (72)

Aberdovey lifeboats

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [11]	Class	Comments [12]
Pre-178	Victoria	1837	1837–1859	26-foot Palmer	[Note 1]
Pre-344	Unnamed	1859	1859–1865	30-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 2]
Pre-440	Royal Berkshire	1865	1865–1886	32-foot Self-righting (P&S)	[Note 3]
63	Thomas Niccolls Stratford	1886	1886–1904	34-foot 1in Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 4]
534	William Brocksopp	1904	1904–1921	35-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 5]
476	George and Margaret	1901	1921–1931	35-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 6] Previous at Isle of Whithorn

Station Closed in 1931

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

D-class

Op. No. [b]	Name	On station [13]	Class	Comments
D-12	Unnamed	1963–1964	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-10	Unnamed	1965	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-19	Unnamed	1965–1967	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-138	Unnamed	1967	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-161	Unnamed	1968–1969	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-140	Unnamed	1969–1970	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-19	Unnamed	1970	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-46	Unnamed	1970	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-110	Unnamed	1970	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-140	Unnamed	1971–1974	D-class (RFD PB16)

B-class

Op. No. [b]	Name	On station [14]	Class	Comments
B-514	Guide Friendship 1	1974–1983	B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-559	Long Life 3	1983–1999	B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-758	Sandwell Lifeline	1999–2016	B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-896	Hugh Miles	2016–	B-class (Atlantic 85)	[15]

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No. [b]	Reg. No.	Type	On station [16]	Comments
T76	BGO 680B	Case 1000D	1989–1991
TW16Hb	H610 SUJ	Talus MB-4H Hydrostatic (Mk 1.5)	1991–1993
T85	SEL 394R	Talus MBC Case 1150C	1993–1995
T88	WEL 301S	Talus MBC Case 1150C	1995–1999
T90	UJT 491X	Talus MBC Case 1150C	1999–2013
T97	C282 LNT	Talus MB-H Crawler	2014–

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.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

Notes

1. 26-foot x 6-foot (6-oared) Palmer-class lifeboat, built by Taylor of Blackwall, London.
2. 30-foot x 6-foot 3in (6-oared) Peake self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £147.
3. 32-foot x 7-foot 5in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £252.
4. 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr T. N. Stratford of Worcester, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £336.
5. 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. Brocksopp of Holloway, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £865.
6. 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr G. Levy of Wood Green, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £834 when new.

References

1. "Aberdovey's station history". Aberdovey Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
2. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 85.
3. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 121.
4. "Additional Life-Boat Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. IV (34): 211. 1 October 1859. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
5. The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1863. Cambridge University Press. 28 March 2013. p. 606. ISBN   9781108054546.
6. "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. VI (59): 15. 1 January 1866. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
7. "New Developments" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XXXVII (406): 553. December 1963. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
8. "Ceremonies to name lifeboats in Aberdovey and Barmouth". BBC. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
9. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0907605893.
10. "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
11. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 4–35.
12. Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–88.
13. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 86–88.
14. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 80–85.
15. "Aberdyfi RNLI welcomes new lifeboat" . Retrieved 7 December 2016.
16. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 105–107.

External links

• Aberdovey RNLI Lifeboat Station