New Quay Lifeboat Station () is located off Glanmor Terrace in New Quay, a seaside town approximately south of Aberystwyth, overlooking Cardigan Bay, on the west coast of Ceredigion, West Wales.

A lifeboat was first placed at New Quay by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1864, and celebrated 150 years of service in 2014.

The station operates two lifeboats: a All-weather lifeboat, 13-48 Roy Barker V (ON 1355), on station since 2023, and a Inshore lifeboat, Will Morgan (D-886), on station since 2024.

History 19th century Numerous wrecks occurred along the coast at New Quay in Wales. In the great storm of 25–26 October 1859, six ships were wrecked at New Quay.

Communication from the Commodore Controller-General of HM Coastguard was received and read at the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 2 June 1864. He had forwarded a report from the Inspecting Commander of Coastguard, who highlighted the necessity for a lifeboat at Newquay in Cardiganshire, with the establishment of a station being agreed.

By 1 January 1865, an article in the RNLI journal The Life-boat reported the arrival of a lifeboat, and the construction of a boathouse at New Quay. A self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London in 1857, was transferred from its old station at . Before its arrival, it was sent to the Woolfe boatyard in Shadwell, London, and extended to , rowing 12 oars. Costing £161 when new, the boat had been funded by the Ancient Order of Foresters, and was named Forester.

The boat was transported by the London and North Western and the Cambrian railway companies to Aberystwyth, from where it was rowed to its station at New Quay. A boathouse with a powerful winch was constructed at the top of a long incline from the harbour, at the bottom of St John's street, at a cost of £129-15s.

In 1872, additional funding was appropriated to the station by 'an anonymous lady', with the lifeboat being renamed Nelson. The lifeboat served New Quay for 22 years until 1886, launching 10 times, and saving 5 lives.

E. M. Lewis was Coxswain in 1880 when a lifeboatman was put aboard the barque Pacific to pilot her out of danger during a gale; the lifeboatmen successfully claimed salvage of £325 but then refused to pay the customary charge for the use of the lifeboat, resulting in Lewis's dismissal. He was succeeded by Owen Evans.Bryan, p.6

New Quay's new lifeboat was Frank and Marion (ON 62), built by Forrest & Son of Limehouse, London, costing £374, a gift from Dr and Mrs Smart of Kent in 1886. The day of the naming ceremony was declared a public holiday. Frank and Marion was built along the same lines as Nelson but with improved ballast tanks and rowing conformation to provide greater power for less effort. She effected several rescues before Coxswain Evans retired in 1905 after serving for 25 years. He was succeeded by David Davies. The lifeboat was launched a recorded seven times during her service, saving 19 lives.Bryan, pp.11-20

20th century A new boathouse and slipway were built to the south of the original in 1903–4 at a cost of £1,312; the original boathouse was passed on to the Harbour Commission. The 1904 boathouse, when superseded in 1992, was renamed Cnwc-y-Glap and was still in use in 2014.Bryan, p.12

From 1907 the station used the pulling and sailing lifeboat, William Cantrell Ashley (ON 578), the longest-serving lifeboat at the station. The lifeboat was funded by the legacy of Charles Carr Ashley, which provided for five lifeboats and included funds for maintenance and for the benefit of crew members' widows and their families in the event of loss of life. The lifeboat was transported from London by rail to Fishguard and sailed to New Quay by the same 15 crew that had delivered Frank and Marion to Fishguard at the end of her service.Bryan, p.21

In August 1917, after going out to two boys fishing in a small boat in deteriorating weather, the lifeboat diverted to rescue two fishermen whose boat was foundering; all four were saved. For 17 years in the 1920s and 1930s the coxswain was Frederick Shayler. In November 1920 the lifeboat was called to , being towed to the breaker's at Milford Haven. In a gale and heavy seas the tow had parted and the lifeboat, dwarfed by the 3,000 ton cruiser, took off seven of the eight crew, with the captain refusing to leave (he was rescued two days later by Aberystwyth lifeboat).Bryan, p.22

In February 1946 William Cantrell Ashley was at sea for more than 24 hours in severe weather standing by the broken-down submarine and helping to rescue her crew. William Cantrell Ashley was the RNLI's last pulling and sailing lifeboat when she was retired in 1948 after 41 years' service. She was passed on to the first Outward Bound school at Aberdovey.

In the same year the RNLI adapted the station for a new lifeboat and built a tractor house.

The first powered lifeboat at New Quay was the St Albans (ON 863) which served from 1948 to 1970.

An Inshore lifeboat and boathouse was added in 1967. In 1970 an lifeboat, Bird's Eye (ON 996), was donated to the station by Bird's Eye Foods Ltd. In 1992 another new boathouse was constructed to house both lifeboats. On her retirement, Bird's Eye went on display at the Seawatch Centre, Moelfre, and New Quay took delivery of a All-weather lifeboat.

In 1994 Winston Evans retired as coxswain after 29 years; he had been Britain's youngest coxswain aged 26 in 1965, taking over the helm from Rhoslan Davies. Winston's father, Arden Evans, had also been coxswain and between them they served for 40 years. In 1966 Winston received the RNLI Bronze Medal for a rescue in Cardigan Bay and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1985. His successor was Daniel Potter, a great nephew of Frederick Shayler. Winston Evans recalled that in his time most crew members were fishermen, but in later years came from many different walks of life.

21st century Audrey Lawson-Johnston, a survivor of the sinking in 1915, gifted a new lifeboat in 2004, named Amy Lea after her mother. Mrs Lawson-Johnston died in 2011 and when a new D-class came on station in 2012, it was named Audrey LJ in her memory.

The station celebrated 150 years of service in 2014 and local MP Mark Williams posted an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons in June to mark the occasion. In the same month the two lifeboats were re-dedicated in a ceremony which included a fly-past and a slate plaque being presented to the station by local fundraisers Quay West Ladies.

Visitor access This station is classed as an "Explore" lifeboat station by the RNLI, their highest level of visitor experience.

Awards The following are awards made at New Quay:

RNLI Bronze Medal David Winston Evans, Coxswain – 1966 Evan Fowler, Motor Mechanic – 1966 David Rees, Police Sergeant – 1966 Mervyn Lloyd Thomas, Helm – 1974

'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' Idris Evans, Helm – 1967 Trevor Evans, crew Member – 1967 Peter Evans, crew Member – 1967 Richard Llewellyn Davies, crew Member – 1974 David Richard Phillips, crew Member – 1974 Mervyn Lloyd Thomas, Helm – 1976

'Letter of Thanks from the Chairman of the Institution' Daniel Potter, Coxswain – 2023 Bernie Davies, Mechanic – 2023 Simon Rigby, Navigator – 2023 Rees-Tom Jones, crew Member – 2023 Dylan Price, crew Member – 2023 Huw Williams, crew Member – 2023

Exceptional First Aid Certificate Gary Hartley, crew member – 2011

British Empire Medal David Winston Evans, Coxswain – 1986NYH

New Quay lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments Forester1857 1864–187235-foot Peake self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the Ancient Order of Foresters, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £161 when new. Extended to x (10-oared) by Woolfe of Shadwell in 1864 Previously at . Renamed Nelson in 1872. Nelson 1872–1886 Gift of an anonymous lady.Broken up in 1886. 62 Frank and Marion 1886 1886–1907 x (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr and Mrs F. G. Smart of Tunbridge Wells, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £374.Broken up in 1907. 578 1907 1907–1948 35-foot Liverpool (P&S) x (12-oared) Liverpool-class non-self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr C. C. Ashley of Menton, France, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £961.Sold in 1949. Stored for restoration at The National Collections Centre, Nantgarw, December 2025.

Motor lifeboats ON Op.No. Name Built Class Comments 863 – St Albans 1948 1948–1970 996 Bird's Eye 1970 1970–1990 Preserved at 961 37-03 1961 1990–1991 Previously at 973 37-06 Fairlight 1964 1991–1992 Previously at and 1172 12-15 Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge 1991 1992–2023 Transferred to the relief fleet. 1355 13-48 Roy Barker V 2023 2023–

Inshore lifeboats Op.No. Name Class Comments D-122 1967–1975 D-238 1976–1987 D-339 1987–1995 D-476 Corydd 1995–2003 D-460 Leicester Fox 2003–2004 D-616 Amy Lea 2004–2012 D-754 Audrey LJ 2012–2024 Will Morgan 2024–

Launch and recovery tractors Op.No. Reg. No. Type Comments T39 HYU 16 Case L 1948–1957 T38 HYU 15 Case L 1957–1960 T50 KLA 84 Case LA 1960–1965 T43 JXR 934 Case LA 1965–1970 T72 518 GYM Case 1000D 1970–1981 T71 519 GYM Case 1000D 1981–1988 T80 DLB 482C Case 1000D 1988–1992 T113 J794 VUX Talus MB-H Crawler 1992–2001 T102 E387 VAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2001–2011 T100 D466 RAW Talus MB-H Crawler 2011–2023 2023–

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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External links

New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station