Aberdovey Lifeboat Station () is located in the coastal village of Aberdovey, on the north bank of the River Dyfi estuary, on Cardigan Bay, in the county of Gwynedd, West Wales.

A lifeboat was first placed at Aberdovey in 1837. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1853, with the RNIPLS becoming the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1854.

Since 2016, the station has operated a Inshore lifeboat, RNLB Hugh Miles (B-896), launched by tractor.

This station is classed as an RNLI "Discover" lifeboat station, which welcomes visitors normally during the summer months.

History The first Aberdyfi lifeboat was placed on station in 1837, and managed by the Harbour Authority. Management of the station was transferred to the RNIPLS in 1853, which became the RNLI the following year.

However, it would be another four years before a new boathouse was constructed in 1858, ready for the arrival of a new 30-foot 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (6) oars, and its carriage, in 1859.

On 8 December 1862, crew member Owen Owen, aged 33, drowned when the lifeboat capsized whilst on exercise.

In February 1863, Honorary Secretary David Williams was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, for putting out to the stranded brig Friends. His crew were voted £8 reward by the Institution. In September the same year the RNLI voted to reward the crew of the lifeboat £4-10s-0d, for the rescue of six crew of the stranded barque William Bromham.

A new larger 10-oared lifeboat was supplied to the station in 1865, after it was found that the 6-oared lifeboat wasn't ideal for the locality. The lifeboat was funded by a donation of £489-16s-8d, raised in Berkshire by Charles Stevens, Banker, and Capt. A. Butler, RN. After being displayed in Reading in September 1865, the boat was transported to Aberdovey free of charge by the Great Western and Cambrian railway companies, and following a procession to the river, was duly named Royal Berkshire.

In 1886, a building plot was bought for £150 and a new boathouse was constructed for £320.

There was a second tragedy in 1898 when crew member John Price, aged 72, lost his life trying to save people after a boating accident. His dependents were awarded £50 compensation by the RNLI's Committee of Management.

A slipway for the lifeboat was built in 1903, at a cost of £300, to enable the lifeboat to be launched into the river.

After operating for 94 years, Aberdovey Lifeboat Station was closed in 1931. The lifeboat on station at the time of closure, George and Margaret (ON 476), was sold from service.

1960s onwards In 1963, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI began trials of small fast Inshore lifeboats, placed at various locations around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. This quickly proved to be very successful. In 1963, there were 226 rescues or attempted rescues in the summer months, as a result of which 225 lives were saved.

Aberdovey Lifeboat Station was reopened in 1963 at the Outward Bound Sea School, as an Inshore lifeboat station, supplied with a lifeboat. In 1974, the smaller lifeboat was replaced by the larger twin-engined Inshore lifeboat.

A new boathouse was built in 1991 to house the Atlantic 21 and its launching tractor, a shop and crew facilities, and in 1995, an upper floor was built to provide a crew room, galley and store.

From 1998 to 2016, the station operated an inshore lifeboat, RNLB Sandwell Lifeline (B-758), launched by tractor, and making an average of 25 emergency launches a year. She replaced B-559, which was transferred to the British Virgin Islands as a rescue craft.

In 2016, the Inshore lifeboat Hugh Miles (B-896) replaced Sandwell Lifeline. The lifeboat was funded from the legacy of Joan Miles, in memory of her late son.

Station honours A number of awards have been made to recognise exemplary service:

RNLI Silver Medal For the rescue of the crew of the brig Friends of Newport on 8 February 1863 Mr David Williams, of HM Customs, Honorary Secretary – 1863

RNLI Bronze Medal For the rescue of four from the cabin cruiser Lady Jane on 10 August 1974 David William Williams, crew member – 1974

'The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum' For the rescue of four from the cabin cruiser Lady Jane on 10 August 1974 Anthony Mills, Helm – 1974 Andrew Coghill, crew member – 1974

'A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution' For his valuable services as a member of the crew from 1920 to 1931 Mr Ellis Williams, Bowman – 1972

Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) David Eilian Williams – 2014QBH

Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving at Aberdovey: Lost when the lifeboat capsized on exercise, 8 December 1862 Owen Owen, crew member (33) Died during a rescue after a boating accident, 1898 John Price, crew member (72)

Aberdovey lifeboats Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments Victoria 1837 1837–1859 26-foot Palmer x (6-oared) Palmer-class lifeboat, funded by the RNIPLS, built by Taylor of Blackwall, London, costing £68. Altered to x in 1855.Condemned in 1859. Pre-344 1859 1859–1865 30-foot Peake self-righting (P&S) x (6-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £147.Capsized 8 December 1862, and ultimately proved unsuitable. Sold in 1865. Pre-440 Royal Berkshire 1865 1865–1886 32-foot Prowse self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Prowse-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by the collections of Mr C. Stephens and Capt. Butler, RN, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £252.Broken up in 1886. 63 1886 1886–1904 x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr T. N. Stratford of Worcester, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £336.Broken up in 1904. 534 William Brocksopp 1904 1904–1921 35-foot self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr W. Brocksopp of Holloway, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £865.Condemned in 1921, and sold in 1922. 476 George and Margaret 1901 1921–1931 35-foot self-righting (P&S) 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr G. Levy of Wood Green, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £834 when new.Previous at . Sold in 1931. Station Closed in 1931 Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

Inshore lifeboats D-class Op.No. Name Class Comments D-12 1963–1964 D-10 1965 D-19 1965–1967 D-138 1967 D-161 1968–1969 D-140 1969–1970 D-19 1970 D-46 1970 D-110 1970 1971–1974

B-class Op.No. Name Class Comments B-514 Guide Friendship I 1974–1983 B-559 Long Life III 1983–1999 1999–2016 B-896 Hugh Miles 2016–

Launch and recovery tractors Op.No. Reg. No. Type Comments T76 Case 1000D 1989–1991 TW16 H610 SUJ 1991–1993 T85 SEL 394R Talus MBC Case 1150C 1993–1995 T88 WEL 301S Talus MBC Case 1150C 1995–1999 T90 UJT 491X Talus MBC Case 1150C 1999–2013 T97 C282 LNT Talus MB-H Crawler 2014–

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage

Notes

References

External links Aberdovey RNLI Lifeboat Station