Tenby Lifeboat Station


Tenby Lifeboat Station comprises two locations, an All-weather lifeboat station, and a separate Inshore lifeboat station, in Tenby, a seaside resort approximately due west of Swansea, on the western shore of Carmarthen Bay, in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
A lifeboat station was established at Tenby by the The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society in 1852, passing to the management of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1854.
The station currently operates 16-02 Haydn Miller, a All-weather lifeboat, on station since 2006, and Kathleen Ann, a smaller Inshore lifeboat, on station since 2022.
WWW tenbyrnli.co.uk

History

Ever since its founding in 1824, the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, later to become the RNLI in 1854, would award medals for deeds of gallantry at sea, even if no lifeboats were involved. On 22 October 1834, Boatman John Ray made more than a dozen attempts to rescue a man, who had fallen overboard from the sloop Mary. Although his efforts proved unsuccessful, Ray was awarded the RNIPLS Silver Medal for his gallantry.
Tenby Lifeboat Station was established in 1852, by The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society. A lifeboat constructed by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, named Grace Darling, was acquired at a cost of £125, and operated from the small boathouse tucked against the harbour wall.
By 1854, the SFMRBS was involved in the management of eight lifeboat stations,,,, Hornsea,,, and Tenby. Discussions were held between the SFMRBS and the RNLI, and an agreement was made, where the former would concentrate on the welfare of those rescued, whilst the latter would be involved in lifeboats, stations and rescues. Management of all eight stations was transferred to the RNLI on 7 December 1854.
Grace Darling was sent to boat-builders Forrest of Limehouse, London for modification work, at a cost of £104-18s-9d, to bring her to RNLI specifications, returning to station, and operating until 1863.
Between 1854 and 1859, the RNLI Silver Medal for gallantry was awarded 4 times, including service to the following vessels:
A new boathouse was constructed on Castle Beach in 1862, at a cost of £190, in preparation for the arrival of the new boat, which arrived on station in 1863. The self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' lifeboat, one with sails and oars, was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, and cost £260. Along with a transporting carriage, the boat was conveyed to Ferryside, free of charge, by the Great Western and South Wales railway companies. The 1862 boathouse would be demolished in 1894, replaced on the same site with a limestone built boathouse, faced in Ashlar, and designed by W. T. Douglas.
A difficulty with launching from the harbour site was the shallow angle of the underlying geological strata. The sand beaches at Tenby were a hazard due to the speed of the tide, and an obstacle to overcome while dragging a 2-ton lifeboat from the harbour. When the boat was replaced in 1905 with a larger and heavier one, a new boathouse and roller slipway were built on the north side of Castle Hill. It was constructed using the new screw-piles that had been created for the foundations in deep sand of Victorian era pleasure piers. The lifeboat could then be launched in all weathers and states of tide. It later became a public access way, with the ferry boat to Caldey Island using the slipway as a disembarkation point for tourists. Due to the legal status of foreshore in the UK, the ground on which these lifeboat stations are built has been leased from the Crown Estate.
In 1923, the first motor-powered lifeboat came on station. The lifeboat operated throughout World War II, in part due to the three squadrons of Royal Air Force Short Sunderland flying boats operating from Milford Haven. In 1952 the station was awarded an RNLI Vellum for 100 years of service.

1972-onwards: dual-boat station

From 1972, the station became a dual-boat station with an Inshore lifeboat stationed within Tenby Harbour. In 1976, a new ILB boathouse was built on the north side of the harbour to house the boat and a tractor.ref name="Tenby RNLI"/>
On 6 September 1986, the lifeboat RFA Sir Galahad came on station. Named after the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which was sunk subsequent to being damaged during the Falklands War, it became the last boat to use the original boathouse. By the time the station was awarded its 150 years Vellum by the RNLI in 2002, another new lifeboat house was planned.
Having obtained an extended lease from the Crown Estate, the RNLI obtained planning permission from the council to build a new lifeboat station on the site of the demolished Victorian era pleasure pier. Due to access restrictions via the North Castle cliff, the £5.5million lifeboat station was built from the sea. Only a supply of concrete was approved to be transported by road through the town. Construction, commissioning works and acceptance were completed in March 2005.
Tenby received the first of the new lifeboats, the Haydn Miller, which came on station for training in March 2006. The lifeboat was named after a farmer, who left £3million to the RNLI in his will. While the crew were still under training, the boat had a successful callout in April 2006.
After being refused planning permission to demolish the old Grade II listed lifeboat station, which had been extended twice to accommodate larger lifeboats, the RNLI eventually sold it into private hands. The new owner agreed the purchase of the freehold from the Crown Estate, and converted it into a four bedroom property. Development of the property was covered by Channel 4 for an episode of Grand Designs, and finished in 2011.
In 2022, the RNLI received planning permission, to convert the 1895 Grade II listed former RNLI boat House on Castle Beach, into the new home for the Inshore Lifeboat, with up-to-date crew facilities. Work began in late January 2022, to refurbish the old station, and to restore the slipway ramp.
On 8 October 2022, the restored station building was officially reopened, partly funded by the legacy of Dr and Mrs Geoffrey Wood-Smith, in memory of their daughter Patricia Wood-Smith, and a donation from John Hill, in memory of his wife, Marjorie. The event also saw the delayed naming ceremony of the new Inshore lifeboat, which had been on station since October 2021, and had already saved the lives of two fishermen. Funded partially from the gift of Ann Myfanwy John, and the legacy of Kathleen Ann Pearson, the lifeboat was named Kathleen Ann.

Visitor access

This station is classed as an "Explore" lifeboat station by the RNLI, aiming to offer their best visitor experience. When the boats are not on call, the station offers free access in the summer months, and pre-booked tours in the winter. Visitors can go inside and look around, see the lifeboat and visit the RNLI gift shop.

Awards

The following are awards made at Tenby.

Roll of honour

In memory of those lost whilst serving Tenby lifeboat.
  • Collapsed while pulling up the Radar mast, during the launch of the lifeboat on 17 July 1988, and died the following day.