Newquay Lifeboat Station Explained

Newquay Lifeboat Station
Map Type:Cornwall
Pushpin Relief:1
Location:Newquay
Address:Newquay Harbour, South Quay Hill, Newquay, TR7 1HR
Location Country:United Kingdom
Coordinates:50.4164°N -5.0872°W
Building Type:Lifeboat station
Owner:RNLI
Embedded:
Embed:yes
Designation1:Grade II
Designation1 Feature:Old lifeboat house and slipway
Designation1 Date:11 May 1988

Newquay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Newquay, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It operates two lifeboats, The Gladys Mildred (B-821) and Enid Mary (D-773).

History

A 'new kaye' was authorised in 1439 to provide a safe harbour during bad weather on the north coast of Cornwall. The harbour was improved in 1836, resulting in the two main piers that encircle it today.[1] During the 1850s, three silver medals were awarded to people rescuing people from shipwrecks near Newquay.[2] A lifeboat house was built on Fore Street in 1860, the lifeboat being taken down the street to the beach when it was needed.[3]

A slipway was built at Towan Head in 1895[2] with an inclination of 1 in 2.5 (40%), one of the steepest slipways in the country.[3] A lifeboat station was also built on Towan Head in 1899 which enabled the lifeboat to be launched directly into the water.[3]

It was suggested in 1897 that Newquay should be provided with a steam-powered lifeboat, however it was decided that was the only Cornish lifeboat station that was suitable.[4]

The station was closed in 1934, by which time motor lifeboats at other stations could provide better coverage than the "pulling and sailing" lifeboat at Newquay powered by oars or sails. The station was reopened in 1940 to house a motor lifeboat during World War II, but closed permanently in 1945, after which the building was used by the local council.[3]

The RNLI started to station inshore lifeboats (ILBs) around Cornwall from 1964. These could provide quicker rescues for the increasing number of leisure craft that were being used. A new lifeboat station opened on the harbour side at Newquay in June 1965. This housed a ILB. In 1994 a larger station was built on the same site with space for a second ILB, a larger which could reach casualties further from Newquay.[3]

Awards

Members of the lifeboat crew were awarded RNLI silver and bronze medals for a meritorious rescue of the Osten which ran aground in a storm on 17 December 1917.[2]

Members of Newquay's ILB crews have been recognised for their bravery several times. One received their "Thanks inscribed on vellum" in 1973. Other crew members were given the same in 1997, 2000 and 2010. Several crew members have also received a framed letter of thanks from the RNLI's chairman.[2]

Lifeboats

At Towan Head

ON is the Official Number used in RNLI records from 1884.

ONNameBuiltClassclass=unsortableComments
1860–1865Joshua1860[5]
1865–1873Joshua1865Standard Self-Righter
1873–1892210Pendock Neale1865Standard Originally built in 1865 for Kingsdowne Lifeboat Station and named Sabrina which was changed to James and Elizabeth before becoming Pendock Neale.[6]
1892–1899331Willie Rogers1892Standard Self-RighterOperated at in south Devon from 1900 until 1903.
1899–19174261899Standard Self-RighterWrecked when launched for a service on 17 December 1917. The remains were found submerged near the Towan Head slipway in 2004.
1917–1920453John William Dudley1900Standard Self-RighterServed at, Sussex, until 1916. After its time at Newquay it worked at in Scotland until 1923.
1920–1934509Admiral Sir George Black1903Standard Self-RighterHad been stationed at on the south coast of Cornwall until 1918.
1940–1945794Richard Silver Oliver1937A motor lifeboat initially stationed at .[7] After service at Newquay it moved up the coast to and then to in Wales where it remained until 1961.

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. is the Operational Number shown on the boat.

NameClassTypeNewclass=unsortableComments
1965–1967D-55(no name)D1965
1967–1968D-110(no name)DRFD PB161967
1969–1979D-171(no name)DRFD PB161969
1979–1980D-192(no name)DRFD PB161971
1980–1984D-278(no name)DZodiac III1980
1984–1994C-511(no name)Zodiac IV1984Initially carried number .
1994–1996D-406Phyl ClareDEA161990
1995B-539Lions International B1978
1995–2007B-715PhyllisB1995
1996–2005D-497Lord DaresburyDEA161996
2005–2014Valerie WilsonDIB12005
2007B-717Daisy AitkenBAtlantic 751995
2007–B-821Gladys MildredB2007
2014–D-773Enid MaryDIB12014

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Roddis, Roland . Cornish Harbours . Christopher Johnson . 126 . 1951.
  2. Web site: Newquay station history . RNLI . 13 January 2024 . 1 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201180338/https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/newquay-lifeboat-station/station-history-newquay . live .
  3. Book: Leach, Nicholas . Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage . Twelveheads Press . 46 . 2nd . 2006.
  4. Book: Leach . Nicholas . Padstow Lifeboats . 2012 . The History Press . 978-0-7524-6540-1 . 32–33.
  5. Book: Leonard . Richie . Denton . Tony . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021 . 2021 . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society . 2–18.
  6. Book: Denton, Tony . Handbook 2010 . Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society . 5 . 2010.
  7. Web site: Station remembers the loss of RNLB Richard Silver Oliver . RNLI . 24 January 2024 . 16 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216164207/https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2021/april/18/station-remembers-the-loss-of-rnlb-richard-silver-oliver . live .