Rhyl Lifeboat Station can be found at East Parade in Rhyl, a seaside town sitting at the mouth of the River Clwyd, on the coast of Denbighshire, North Wales.
The station currently operates 13-34 Anthony Kenneth Heard (ON 1341), a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat (ALB), on station since 2019, and the smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat (ILB), Geoff Pearce (D-903), on station since 2025.[2]
History
In 1851, the president of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), Duke of Northumberland, offered a prize of 100 guineas for the best design for a self-righting lifeboat. The prize was won by boatbuilder Mr James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
On the strength of this award, the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society purchased a lifeboat for Rhyl from James Beeching of Great Yarmouth. The boat was a 26-foot x 6-foot 6in self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with both sails and (8) oars, and was named Gwylan-y-Mor. A boathouse was constructed between the beach and the river, on the west side of the River Clwyd.[3]
On 22 January 1853, the SFMRBS Rhyl lifeboat Gwylan-y-Mor was launched to the aid of a vessel, thought to be the Lord Ashburton, which had been reported 'de-masted' off West Hoyle. Unable to find the vessel, (reports say the boat later put in at Beaumaris), the lifeboat headed home, but capsized on the return trip. The lifeboat didn't self-right, and six of her nine crew were lost.[4][5][6]
Only 3 months earlier, on 1 October 1852, in another Beeching lifeboat, eight SFMRBS lifeboat crew from Lytham had drowned. The lifeboat didn't self-right after capsize. Afterwards it was discovered that doors had been cut into the airtight boxes for storage, and that the water ballast tanks had not been plugged, allowing the water to escape, thus cancelling any self-righting capability.[7][8]
A damning report was published in the "The Lifeboat", dated 1 December 1852, but apparently published after the Rhyl disaster, highlighting the fact that although both boats carried a brass plaque with "Northumberland Prize Boat", neither had been constructed to the same design or standards.[9]
Although modifications were made to the lifeboat, all confidence in the boat had been lost, and although it was officially on service until 1856, the local committee resolved that the boat would not be used again.[10]
On 5 October 1854, under the guidance of the Duke of Northumberland, the RNIPLS became the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Just two months later, on 7 December 1854, the SFMRBS handed over the management of all their stations and lifeboats, including Rhyl and Lytham, to the RNLI. This was to allow the SFMRBS to concentrate of the welfare of those people rescued.[11]
On the request of the local committee, and with a view to evaluating its performance, the RNLI commissioned a new design "Tubular" lifeboat, following successful trials of the first boat Challenger, by its inventor H. Richardson, of Bala.[12]
In February 1856, the new 32-foot Tubular lifeboat, constructed by Mr Lees of Manchester, was launched, and towed to Rhyl from Manchester. The lifeboat was constructed using two iron tubes, 32-feet x 2-feet 8in diameter, divided into eight air-tight compartments, and containing 140 cubic feet of air. The tubes were connected together, and supported a deck of 8-feet 4in, sitting approximately 11 inches above the water.[10][13]
It was reported at the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 3 September 1867, that the sum of £650 had been received from Miss Ellen Hodgson, executor of the will of the late Mrs Elizabeth Morgan of Cheltenham, for the whole cost of the renovation of the Rhyl lifeboat station in her memory. The lifeboat had recently suffered some damage, and after being sent for repairs, returned to be named Morgan. The lifeboat continued to serve at Rhyl until 1893.[14]
Whilst the Tubular lifeboat was away for repairs, unusually, the relief lifeboat supplied was a brand new lifeboat. Henry Nixson No.2 had been built for the new Abergele Lifeboat Station. Before even reaching its new station, it was diverted to cover at Rhyl. When the tubular lifeboat returned, it had been decided to establish the new station a little further along the coast at Llanddulas, and a lifeboat station was never established at Abergele.[15]
1960s onwards
At 01:17 on 17 September 1962, Rhyl Lifeboat Anthony Robert Marshall (ON 869) was launched on service, to the first lifeboat service to a hovercraft. After a season operating between Rhyl and Hoylake, in a north-west gale, the hovercraft had broken adrift, and was in danger of hitting Rhyl promenade. Unable to attach a line, the coxswain manouvered the lifeboat between Hovercraft and shore, rescuing the three crew, and bringing the hovercraft to harbour an hour later when conditions allowed. For this service, Coxswain Harold Campini was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.[16][17]
In 1967, the first D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore Lifeboat (D-141) was also put on service in Rhyl, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.[18]
The RNLI Bronze Medal was awarded to Helm Don Archer-Jones in 1973, for the courage and seamanship he displayed, when the ILB rescued two boys cut off by the tide. Both were found clinging to a perch marking the sewer outfall between Rhyl and Prestatyn, in a gale force westerly wind and a rough sea on 7 August. Crew member Paul Frost was awarded a medal service certificate.[19]
The Duke of Kent presented the lifeboat station with an anniversary Vellum in 2002, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rhyl Lifeboat Station.
Description
The lifeboat station is built on the promenade in Rhyl. The building contains the All-weather lifeboat (ALB) with Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS), Inshore lifeboat (ILB), launched with a marinised County Tractor, and a Land-Rover Defender, used for Search and Rescue operations off the coast of Rhyl. The station also has a short concrete slipway that leads down to the beach. Each boat is kept on a carriage attached to a tractor which propels it down to the water and brings it back after use. A fundraising shop is situated on the west side of the boathouse.
Area of operation
The Shannon-class All-Weather lifeboat at Rhyl has a top speed of 25 knots (46km/h). The lifeboat can cover an area from Colwyn Bay (west) to Mostyn (east). North of the station the All-Weather lifeboat covers the Oil and Gas platforms of the Douglas and Hamilton fields, and also the windfarms of North Hoyle; Rhyl Flats; and the Gwynt-Y-Mor fields. Rhyl Lifeboat is a part of the contingency plan for any evacuation of the rigs. The area also covers the outer approaches to Liverpool. Adjacent ALBs are at Llandudno to the west, and Hoylake to the east. There is an ILB station at both Flint and West Kirby to the east.
Notable rescues
1962 - ALB, First service ever made by a lifeboat to a hovercraft [20]
1973 - ILB, Rescue to children stuck on sewer outfall [21]
(Stations are ordered in clockwise order around the coast)
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Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
