Bude Lifeboat Station

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Bude Lifeboat Station
Bude Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 130881.jpg
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Bude on the north coast of Cornwall
General information
TypeLifeboat station
Location Bude
AddressSummerleaze Beach, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8HN
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates 50°49′51″N4°33′00″W / 50.83071°N 4.55012°W / 50.83071; -4.55012
Opened2002;23 years ago (2002)
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/bude-lifeboat-station

Bude Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Bude, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It operates a D-class (IB1) lifeboats, which since 2012 has been the George Bird (D-756).

Contents

History

As a result of two shipwrecks in 1836, King William IV was petitioned to provide a lifeboat for Bude. This was built in Sunderland and was placed in service in 1837. Although approved by the National Institution for the Preservation of Life in Cases of Shipwreck (as the RNLI was known at the time), it was operated by a local independent association. It capsized during an exercise in 1844 and two of the crew were drowned. [1]

In 1853 the RNLI provided a new lifeboat and a lifeboat house was built next to the Bude Canal in 1863. [2] On 3 March 1877 Coxswain James Maynard was drowned when the lifeboat capsized while returning from a service. [1]

This lifeboat station was closed in 1923. [2]

The RNLI began to station inshore lifeboats (ILBs) around Cornwall from 1964. These could provide quicker rescues to the increasing number of leisure craft that were being used. [3] From 1966 one was stationed at Bude, kept in a building near the South Pier from where it was launched across the beach. Trials were made in 2000 to test a new site at Summerleaze Beach. These were successful and a new lifeboat station was opened there in 2002. [2]

Awards

W.H. Tregidgo was awarded the RNLI silver medal after rescuing two men from a shipwreck on 9 October 1853. On 13 March 1858 he took part in a rescue with men from the Coastguard, together they saved 17 men from the Defence after it ran aground and the rescuers were awarded silver medals. The following year Tredigo earned a third silver medal for his part in rescuing the crews of the Union and the Anais when they were both wrecked in a storm on 26 October 1859. [1]

Coxswain James Maynard was awarded a gold medal by the Spanish government after rescuing the crew of a Spanish ship which ran aground north of Bude in 1865. In 1880, Coxswain T. Bate led the rescue of four people from a boat wrecked on Padstow breakwater, for which he received an RNLI silver medal. [1]

Members of Bude's ILB crew have been recognised for their bravery several times. The RNLI's 'Thanks inscribed on velum' was presented for rescues in 1993 and 1996, and framed letter of thanks were given to crew members by the RNLI's chairman after both these rescues and another in 1991. [1]

Lifeboats

Pulling and sailing lifeboats

'Pulling and sailing' lifeboats were equipped with oars but could use sails when conditions allowed.

At BudeONNameBuiltClassComments
1837–1853(None)The Royal Bude Lifeboat1837 Greathead Independent lifeboat presented by King William IV. [1]
1853–1863(None)(None)1853 Peake [1]
1863–1886(None)Elizabeth Moore Garden1863Peake [1]
1886–191152Elizabeth Moore Garden1885Peake [4]
1911–1923616Elizabeth Moore Garden1911 Rubie Transferred to North Berwick in Scotland after Bude closed. [5]

Inshore lifeboats

At BudeOp. No.NameBuiltModelComments
1966–1975D-96(None)1966 RFD PB16 [6]
1975–1987D-232(None)1975 Zodiac III [7]
1987–1996D-343(None)1987 EA16 [8]
1996–2003D-495Elsie Frances II1996EA16Transferred to Burnham-on-Sea. [9]
2004D-422Alec Dykes1992EA16Had previously operated from Ilfracombe. [10]
2004–2012D-617Henry Phillip2004 IB1 [11]
2014–D-756George Bird2014IB1 [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bude station history". RNLI. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Leach, Nicholas (2006). Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage (2nd ed.). Twelveheads Press. p. 48.
  3. ↑ Leach 2006, pp. 28–30.
  4. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–5.
  5. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, pp. 26–27.
  6. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 74.
  7. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 76.
  8. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 78.
  9. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 80.
  10. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 79.
  11. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 82.
  12. ↑ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 85.
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