Moelfre Lifeboat Station

Moelfre Lifeboat Station
Gorsaf Bad Achub Moelfre
Moelfre Lifeboat Station
Moelfre, Anglesey
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Moelfre Lifeboat Station, Moelfre, Anglesey, LL72 8LG, Wales, UK
Coordinates	53°21′17.0″N4°13′55.3″W / 53.354722°N 4.232028°W / 53.354722; -4.232028
Opened	AAPLS 1848–1855 *RNLI 1855–
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station

Moelfre Lifeboat Station can be found on Lifeboat Lane in Moelfre, a village overlooking Moelfre Bay, on the north-east coast Anglesey, North Wales.

A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1848 by the Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (AAPLS). Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855. ^[1]

There are 2 lifeboats, the slipway launched All-weather Tamar-class lifeboat 16-25 Kiwi (ON 1305), on station since 2013, named in appreciation of the major sponsor of the boat, a native of New Zealand, which normally carries a crew of 6 or 7. The Inshore lifeboat is a D-class (IB1) named Enfys 2 (D-825), with 3 crew, on station since 2018. ^[2]

History

The Anglesey Association for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was founded by the Rev. James and Mrs Frances Williams in 1828.They had witnessed the loss of 140 lives from the wreck of the vessel Alert in 1823, and spent the following five years raising funds and gaining support. ^[3]

By 1846, the Anglesey Association had already started stations at Cemlyn, Holyhead, Rhoscolyn, Penmon, and Llanddwyn (Niwbwrch), and it was decided that the next station (Station No.6) would be at Moelfre. In 1848, Penmon got a new boat, and their old lifeboat was transferred to Moelfre, where a new stone-built boathouse had been constructed. Roland Hughes was appointed Coxswain in 1849. ^[4]

In 1855, the Anglesey Association's six lifeboat stations were formally handed over to the RNLI. A new boat had been constructed for Moelfre in 1854, and she would remain on service for the next 20 years. In 1866 and 1867, the "London Sunday-School Lifeboat-Fund" raised over £700. In recognition of this, and the Hon. Secretary of the fund, the Moelfre lifeboat was renamed London Sunday Schools and Charles Seare in 1867. ^[4]

A new boathouse, costing £158-18s-0d, and later a slipway, was constructed at Porth Nigwyl in 1875. This boathouse can still be seen today.

The old lifeboat station at Porth Nigwyl

However, a bigger lifeboat house with deep-water slipway was constructed in 1909 to house Charles and Eliza Laura (ON 605) and is still the site of the current lifeboat house. This was modified several times between 1930 and 1993 to accommodate larger boats; its slipway had been commensurately lengthened as well. This station was stone-built with rendered walls and a slate roof, on a rectangular base of coursed, squared limestone. ^[5]

A new boathouse to house the Tamar-class lifeboat was required, built on the site of the 1909 boathouse, and became operational in March 2015. The new station building can house both the All-weather and inshore lifeboats, and has up to date crew facilities with kit drying room and a hot shower, and new mechanics workshop. With the office, training room, meeting area and visitor facilities all based at the RNLI Seawatch Centre 150 yards away, the size of the new lifeboat station was reduced, significantly reducing building costs. ^{[6] [7]}

Notable rescues

At 15:30 on the 28 October 1927, at the height of a storm with gale force winds gusting up to 85 mph, Second Coxswain William Roberts launched the Charles and Eliza Laura (ON 605) to the aid of the vessel Excel of Poole. Also onboard was Capt. Owen Jones, an experience seaman, but not part of the regular crew due to his work, After battling the conditions for over 2 hours, they finally reached the Excel. Realising it was about to sink, they sailed the lifeboat onto the deck of the vessel, rescuing the three crew, before a wave washed the lifeboat off, and the vessel sinking minutes later. The lifeboat, badly damaged, and unable to return to Moelfre due to the weather, made for Puffin Island. Sadly, two lives were lost, one of the vessel crew had been badly injured during the rescue and died, whilst lifeboat crewman William Roberts collapsed and died of exhaustion.

At 22:00, the Beaumaris motor lifeboat was sent out to find the Moelfre boat. Finding the lifeboat in the shelter of Puffin Island, and assuming they were just waiting for a break in the weather, the Beaumaris lifeboat returned to station. The Moelfre crew remained with their battered lifeboat for the rest of the night, and it was only at dawn that the Beaumaris lifeboat was again despatched, this time towing the Moelfre boat, landing the exhausted crew back at Beaumaris Pier at 08:30. For their outstanding service, Acting Coxswain William Roberts, and Capt. Owen Jones were each awarded the RNLI Gold Medal. Each of the remaining crew were awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, including a rare posthumous Bronze Medal for William Roberts. ^{[4] [8]}

Postscript: Three years later in 1930, Moelfre received their first motor-powered lifeboat, a 40ft 6in Watson-class lifeboat, with a single 50-hp petrol engine, giving just over 7 knots. She cost £5,886, and was named G. W. (ON 724), following two separate bequests, in memory of George Staley and Wade Richards, the funds combined to cover the cost. On 27 July 1932, G. W. was launched to find a missing fishing boat, but neither the person or boat was ever found. The missing person was Capt. Owen Jones, recipient of the RNLI Gold Medal. ^[9]

Memorial Statue

Memorial to Richard (Dic) Evans

Richard Matthew (Dic) Evans BEM (1905–2001) served as a crewmen and Coxswain at the station for 50 years, and was credited with saving 281 lives. He was twice awarded the RNLI Gold Medal.

On 23 November 2004, a bronze statue in his memory, situated adjacent to the Moelfre lifeboat station, was unveiled by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. ^[10]

The statue stands 7 ft (2.1 m) high on a granite plinth and was created by Sam Holland. ^[11]

Station honours

The following are awards made to the crew of Moelfre Lifeboat Station. ^{[9] [8]}

• RNLI Gold Medal

William Roberts, Second Coxswain – 1927

Capt. Owen Jones, crew member – 1927

Richard Matthew Evans, Coxswain – 1959

Richard Matthew Evans, Coxswain – 1967 (Second-Service clasp)

• RNLI Silver Medal

Rowland Hughes, Coxswain – 1884

Richard Owen, Assistant Coxswain – 1901

Thomas Owen, Coxswain – 1902

John Matthews, Coxswain – 1940

John Matthews, Coxswain – 1943 (Second-Service clasp)

Evan Owens, Motor Mechanic – 1959

Evan Owens, Motor Mechanic – 1967 (Second-Service clasp)

• RNLI Bronze Medal

William Williams, Bowman – 1927

Robert Richard Francis, crew member – 1927

Owen Jones, crew member – 1927

Thomas Jones, crew member – 1927

Hugh Lloyd Matthews, crew member – 1927

Hugh Owen, crew member – 1927

John Lewis Owen, crew member – 1927

Robert Owen, crew member – 1927

Owen Owens, crew member – 1927

William Roberts, crew member - 1927 (posthumous)

Hugh Thomas, crew member – 1927

Richard Thomas, crew member – 1927

Thomas Williams, crew member – 1927

John Matthews, Coxswain – 1937

Robert Williams, Motor Mechanic – 1940

Richard Matthew Evans, Coxswain, Second Coxswain – 1943

Robert Williams, Motor Mechanic – 1943

Donald Murphy Francis, crew member – 1959

Hugh Owen, crew member – 1959 (Second-Service clasp)

Hugh Jones, crew member – 1959

Donald Murphy Francis, Second Coxswain – 1967 (Second-Service clasp)

Hugh Owen, Acting Bowman – 1967 (Third-Service clasp)

Hugh Jones, crew member – 1967 (Second-Service clasp)

William Maynard Davies, Assistant Mechanic – 1967

David T Evans, crew member – 1967

Capt Jocelyn David Jeavons, crew member – 1967

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

William Roberts, Coxswain – 1975

William Roberts, Coxswain – 1982

Rodney Pace, Second Coxswain – 2002

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

John Thomas, Second Coxswain – 1978

Kenneth Roberts, crew member – 1978

William Roberts, Coxswain – 1980

John Thomas, Second Coxswain – 1980

Rodney Pace, Helm – 1990

Anthony Barclay, crew member – 1990

Rodney Pace, crew member – 1995

David Massey, crew member – 1995

Anthony Barclay, Coxswain – 2002

• British Empire Medal

Richard Matthew Evans, Coxswain – 1969QBH ^[12]

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Moelfre lifeboat. ^[4]

• Collapsed and died whilst on service to the ketch Excel, 28 October 1927

William Roberts, crew member (65)

posthumously awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal

Moelfre lifeboats

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON [a]	Name	Built	On station [13]	Class	Comments
Pre-151	Unnamed	1830	1848–1853	26-foot Palmer	[Note 1] Previously at Penmon.
Pre-277	Unnamed, London Sunday Schools and Charles Seare	1854	1854–1867 1867–1874	28-foot Whale Boat	[Note 2]
Pre-444	Lady Vivian	1865	1874–1884	32-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 3] Previously Pomfret and Goole at Tynemouth.
68	Star of Hope	1884	1884–1892	34-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 4]
325	Star of Hope	1892	1892–1910	39-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 5]
605	Charles and Eliza Laura	1910	1910–1929	40-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 6]
462	Thomas Fielden	1901	1929	40-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 7] Previously at Barrow and Angle
581	Maria Stephenson	1907	1929–1930	38-foot Watson (P&S)	[Note 8] Previously at Buckie.

Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Motor lifeboats

ON [a]	Op. No. [b]	Name	Built	On station [14]	Class	Comments
724	–	G. W.	1929	1930–1956	40-foot 6in Watson
922	–	Watkin Williams	1956	1956–1977	42-foot Watson
1047	37-34	Horace Clarkson	1977	1977–1986	Rother
932	–	Howard Marryat	1957	1986–1988	46-foot 9in Watson	Previously at Fishguard and Barrow
1116	47-013	Robert and Violet	1987	1988–2013	Tyne
1305	16-25	Kiwi	2012	2013–	Tamar	[15]

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [b]	Name	On station [16]	Class	Comments
D-67	Unnamed	1965	D-class (Dunlop)
D-62	Unnamed	1965–1966	D-class (Dunlop)
D-102	Unnamed	1966–1968	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-54	Unnamed	1969	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-133	Unnamed	1969–1974	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-225	Unnamed	1975–1976	D-class (Zodiac III)
D-144	Unnamed	1977–1980	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-276	Gillian Powell	1980–1988	D-class (RFD PB16)
D-381	Douglas	1989–1998	D-class (EA16)
D-532	Kingsand	1998–2008	D-class (EA16)
D-689	Enfys	2008–2018	D-class (IB1)
D-825	Enfys II	2018–	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.

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 non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Harton of Limehouse, London, costing £60 when new.
2. 28-foot x 7-foot (8/12-oared) Whale Boat, built by Griffiths of Holyhead, costing £110.
3. 32-foot x 7-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, latterly funded by Lady Vivian of Beaumaris, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £248 when new.
4. 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Atherton Howard of Cheltenham, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £371.
5. 39-foot x 9-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mrs Atherton Howard of Cheltenham, built by W. T. Ellis of Lowestoft, costing £384.
6. 40-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs S. Clark of London, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London,, costing £1,589.
7. 40-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of S. J. and J. Fielden of Todmorden, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,327 when new.
8. 38-foot x 9-foot 4in (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Miss M. M. Stephenson of Chelsea, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,121 when new.

References

1. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 121.
2. Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 130.
3. "The Lifeboats of Holyhead and Anglesey". People's Collection Wales. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
4. Morris, Jeff (January 2003). The Story of the Moelfre Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
5. "Lifeboat Station, Molfre". www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk. Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
6. "Moelfre RNLI to open new boathouse and name lifeboat". BBC. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
7. "Past station projects". RNLI. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
8. Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN   0-907605-89-3.
9. "Moelfre's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
10. "HRH unveils a memorial statue of Dic Evans outside the Seawatch Heritage Centre, a heroic lifeboatman, during a visit to Wales". Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall. 23 November 2004. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
11. Holland, Sam. "Dic Evans Memorial Sculpture". Sam Holland. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
12. "British Empire Medal (Civil Division)". The Gazette. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
13. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 2–39.
14. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 44–71.
15. "Moelfre lifeboat RNLB Kiwi unveiled after £2.2m bequest". BBC News. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
16. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 87–99.

External links

• Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station