Aberdovey Lifeboat Station Gorsaf Bad Achub Aberdyfi | |
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![]() Aberdovey Lifeboat Station | |
General information | |
Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
Address | Glandovey Terrace, |
Town or city | Aberdovey, Gwynedd, LL35 0EB |
Country | Wales, UK |
Coordinates | 52°32′35″N4°02′44″W / 52.54319°N 4.04565°W |
Opened | Harbour Auth. 1837–1853 RNLI 1853–1931 RNLI ILB 1963– |
Owner | ![]() |
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. The RNIPLS became 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.
The first Aberdyfi lifeboat was bought in 1837. The RNLI took over the station in 1853 and in 1858 built a new boathouse, for a new 30-foot 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (6) oars, and its carriage. [3]
A tragedy occurred in 1862 when crew member Owen Owen, aged 33, died as a result of a capsize on exercise. [1]
In February 1863, David Williams was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal for putting out to the stranded brig Friends and 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 rescuing six crew of the stranded barque William Bromham. [4]
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. [5]
In 1886 a plot was bought for £150 and a new boathouse built 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. The station closed in 1931. [1]
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. [6]
A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service. [1] [7]
In memory of those lost whilst serving Aberdovey lifeboat. [1]
ON [a] | Name | On Station [9] | Class | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-178 | Victoria | 1837–1859 | 26-foot Palmer | [Note 1] |
Pre-344 | Unnamed | 1859–1865 | 30-foot Self-righting Peake (P&S) | [Note 2] [10] |
Pre-440 | Royal Berkshire | 1865–1886 | 32-foot Self-righting (P&S) | [Note 3] [11] |
63 | Thomas Niccolls Stratford | 1886–1904 | 34-foot 1in Self-Righting (P&S) | |
534 | William Brocksopp | 1904–1921 | 35-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | |
476 | George and Margaret | 1921–1931 | 35-foot Self-Righting (P&S) | |
Op. No. [b] | Name | On Station [12] | 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) | |
Op. No. [b] | Name | On Station [13] | 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) | [14] |
Op. No. [b] | Reg. No. | Type | On Station [15] | 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– | |