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.
A lifeboat was first placed at Rhyl in 1852, by The Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners' Royal Benevolent Society (SFMRBS). Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854.
The station currently operates 13-34 Anthony Kenneth Heard (ON 1341), a All-weather lifeboat (ALB), on station since 2019, and the smaller Inshore lifeboat (ILB), Geoff Pearce (D-903), on station since 2025.
History In 1851, the president of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), The Duke of Northumberland, offered a prize of 100 guineas for the best design for a self-righting lifeboat. The prize was won by boat-builder Mr James Beeching of Great Yarmouth.
On the strength of this award, the SFMRBS purchased a lifeboat for Rhyl, from Beeching. 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 (Sea Gull). A boathouse was constructed between the beach and the river, on the west side of the River Clwyd.
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.A Melancholy Catastrophe 1853
Only 3 months earlier, on 1 October 1852, in another Beeching lifeboat, eight SFMRBS lifeboat crew from 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.
A damning report was published in "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.
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.
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 , to the RNLI. This was to allow the SFMRBS to concentrate of the welfare of those people rescued.
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.
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, x diameter, divided into eight air-tight compartments, and containing 140 cubic feet of air. The tubes were connected together, and supported a deck of , sitting approximately above the water.
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 was subsequently named Morgan. After suffering damage in 1868, the boat was sent for repairs, returning in 1869. The lifeboat continued to serve at Rhyl until 1893.
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 , and a lifeboat station was never established at Abergele.
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.
In 1967, the first 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.
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.
The Duke of Kent presented the lifeboat station with an anniversary Vellum in 2002, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Rhyl Lifeboat Station.
In 2019, the long-serving All-weather lifeboat 12-24 Lil Cunningham (ON 1183) was withdrawn from service. The boat was replaced by a state-of-the-art £2.5M lifeboat, and Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS). The new lifeboat, 13-34 Anthony Kenneth Heard (ON 1341), arrived at Rhyl at 11:45 on Sunday 13 October 2019, escorted by the station’s current lifeboats Lil Cunningham and D-class Mary Maxwell (D-770), and former Rhyl lifeboat 37-22 Har Lil (ON 993).
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 All-Weather lifeboat at Rhyl has a top speed of . 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 to the west, and to the east. There is an ILB station at both and to the east.
Notable rescues 1962 - ALB, First service ever made by a lifeboat to a hovercraft Rhyl History 1973 - ILB, Rescue to children stuck on sewer outfall 1973 - Rhyl - Don Archer-Jones 1990 - Towyn and Pensarn floods Towyn floods remembered: 20 years on 2011 - ALB, Rescue kayaker with hypothermia Kayaker rescued five hours after paddling out to windfarm 2011 - ILB, Rescue to mother and son with hypothermia Rhyl RNLI volunteers rescue mother and son with hypothermia 2012 - ALB, Rescue to cargo ship off Llanddulas Oil leaks from Carrier off Llanddulas after crew saved
Station honours The following are awards made at Rhyl.
RNLI Silver Medal Harold Louis Campini, Coxswain – 1962 RNLI Bronze Medal Don Archer-Jones, Helm – 1973 Medal Service Certificate Paul Frost, crew member – 1973 'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' Robert Hughes, Honorary Secretary – 1872 Rhyl lifeboat crew – 1962 Donald Jones, Helm – 1974 Richard Perrin, crew member – 1974 James Quinn, crew member – 1974 'A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' Edward Jones – 1872 Shore Crew – 1962 Martin Jones, Mechanic – 2001 British Empire Medal Bruce Arnold Herbert, Coxswain – 1991QBH Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Jean Olive Frost, Manageress of the Rhyl Lifeboat Souvenir Shop – 2008NYH Paul Frost, crew member – 2011QBH Martin Peter Jones, Coxswain – 2017NYH
Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving at Rhyl:
Lost when the lifeboat capsized and failed to self-right, on service to the Lord Ashburton, 22 January 1853. John Edwards John Evans David George Phillip Jones Thomas Jones William Parry
Rhyl lifeboats No.1 Station ON Name Built Class Comments Gwylan-y-Môr(Seagull) 1852 1852–1856 26-foot Beeching self-righting (P&S) x (8-oared) Beeching self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the SFMRBS, built by James Beeching of Great Yarmouth, costing £112.70 1856 1856–186732-foot Tubular (P&S) x (12-oared) Tubular-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the RNLI, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £203. Funds appropriated from the legacy of Mrs Morgan of Cheltenham in 1867.Named Morgan in 1867. Removed for repairs after damage in 1868. Returned to station in 1869. Morgan 1867–1868 Removed for repairs after damage in 1868. Returned to station in 1869. Pre-490 Henry Nixson No.2 1867 1868–1869 33-foot Peake self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. Nixson of Manchester, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £292.Intended lifeboat for Abergele, diverted as relief whilst ON 70 repaired. Later placed at . 70 Morgan 1856 1869–1893 32-foot Tubular (P&S) Sold in 1893. 287 Caroline Richardson 1891 1893–1897 x (14-oared) Tubular-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. Richardson of Bala, built by Mechan and Son of Glasgow, costing £633 when new.Previously at . Transferred to the relief fleet, but broken up in 1899. 398 1896 1897–1939 34-foot Tubular (P&S) x (12-oared) Tubular-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. Richardson of Bala, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £548.Sold in 1939. Reported scrapped in 1952. Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.}}
No.2 Station ON Name Built Class Comments 1866 1878–1888 x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the anonymous gift of "D", built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £280 when new.Previously Robert Raikes at . Sold in 1888. 166 Jane Martin 1888 1888–1899 34-foot self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs Martin of Pershore, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £377.Broken up in 1899. No.2 Station closed in 1899
Motor lifeboats ON Op.No. Name Built Class Comments 835 – The Gordon Warren 1939 1939–1949 869 – 1949 1949–1968 Transferred to the relief fleet, later at . 993 Har Lil 1968 1968–1990 1000 37-29 Mary Gabriel 1973 1990–1992 Previously at . 1183 12-24 Lil Cunningham 1992 1992–2019 1341 13-34 Anthony Kenneth Heard 2019 2019– More post-service details can be found on the respective lifeboat class pages.
Inshore lifeboats D class Op.No. Name Class Comments D-141 1967–1975 1976–1987 D-348 Banks' Staff I 1987–1995 D-485 Stafford with Rugeley 1995–2004 D-632 2004–2014 D-770 Mary Maxwell 2014–2025 D-903 Geoff Pearce 2025–
Launch and recovery tractors (ALB)