Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station (Welsh Gorsaf Bad Achub Trearddur) is located in Trearddur, a village and seaside resort overlooking Trearddur Bay, just south of Holyhead, but on the opposite south-west corner of Holy Island, off the north-west coast of Anglesey in Wales.
An Inshore lifeboat station was established at Trearddur in 1967 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The station currently operates both an Inshore lifeboat, Hereford Endeavour (B-847), on station since 2010, and the smaller Inshore lifeboat, Clive and Imelda Rawlings II (D-885), on station since 2024.
History In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies.
More stations were opened, and in May 1967, a lifeboat station was established at Trearddur Bay. A Inshore lifeboat was placed on station, with her first rescue taking place on 4 June. A boathouse was constructed in 1971.
On 2 September 1971, the Trearddur Bay Inshore Lifeboat was launched to the aid of two men, who were clinging on to their dinghy, which had capsized twice in bad conditions, close to Cod Rocks. Both men were rescued. Helm John Burns and crew member Edmund Williams were each awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.
A new and larger boathouse was built in 1993, which provided changing room facilities, crew room and galley, a workshop, fuel store and storeroom and a souvenir outlet, which allowed a new lifeboat to be placed on station on 5 December 1996, with the D-class being withdrawn.
On 24 May 2001, Honorary Secretary Jack Abbott was awarded the Royal Humane Society Testimonial Vellum and a Resuscitation Certificate, for his rescue of a man who got into difficulties trying to return to the shore, after swimming after his dinghy which had drifted away from the slipway. Abbott spotted the man face down, from shore and swam out to him, towed him back to shore and performed CPR.
The same year, a decision was made by the RNLI to reallocate a D-class lifeboat to Trearddur Bay to operate alongside the B-class lifeboat already on station.
On 24 February 2011, on their first official engagement as a couple, Prince William and his fiancée Catherine Middleton attended the station, to officially name the new lifeboat Hereford Endeavour (B-847).
Medal service In a severe south-westerly force 9 gale on 20 May 2021, the was launched to the aid of a female surfer. The surfer had got into difficulties, and was now in the water, struggling to get ashore. She was dangerously close to the Cod Rocks, and was being continuously forced underwater.
The crew made no hesitation launching into conditions, which were at the operating limits of the lifeboat. Helm Duncan showed extreme seamanship and boat handling skills, bringing the lifeboat just from the rocks, and with precision and good timing, brought the boat to a position, where the crew could quickly retrieve the casualty, whilst ensuring everyone was as safe as possible.
For this service, Lee Duncan was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal. Recognising their contribution and bravery, the three crew members, Dafydd Griffiths, Leigh McCann and Michael Doran were each awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal.
Station honours The following are awards made at Trearddur Bay.
RNLI Silver Medal for the rescue of a female surfer during gale force 9 winds on 20 May 2021. Lee Duncan, Helm – 2022
RNLI Bronze Medal for rescuing two people that were clinging to a capsized dinghy near Cod Rocks. John Gilbert Victor Burns, Helm – 1971 Edmund Michael Owen Williams, crew member – 1971 for the rescue of a female surfer during gale force 9 winds on 20 May 2021. Dafydd Griffiths, crew member – 2022 Leigh McCann, crew member – 2022 Michael Doran, crew member – 2022
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for the rescue of three people from a capsized speedboat on 8 September 2001 Christopher Pritchard, Helm – 2002
The Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge Award 2001, for the rescue of three people from a capsized speedboat on 8 September 2001. Christopher Pritchard, Helm – 2002
Testimonial Vellum and Resuscitation Certificate awarded by the Royal Humane Society Jack Abbott, , Hon. Secretary – 2001
A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution for his actions during a search for a child who had fallen into the sea at Rhoscolyn. Alan Hughes, Helm – 1999 for his part in saving the lives of two divers. Terry Pendlebury, Helm – 2006
Chief Executives Commendation All the team at Trearddur Bay RNLI – 2022
Chief Executives Letter of Commendation Paul Moffett, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2022
Letter of Commendation from the Director of Operations Mark Smith, Tractor Driver – 2022
Commendation by the Medical Director of the RNLI Lee Duncan, Helm – 2022 Steve Williams – 2022 Tom Moffett – 2022 Matthew Hannaby – 2022 Mike Doran – 2022
Trearddur Bay lifeboats D class Op.No. Name Class Comments D-126 1967–1977 S.M.T.A. Shuttle 1978–1988 D-367 Sea Horse 1988–1996 D-class withdrawn on arrival of B-class in 1996 D-441 Irish Diver 2001–2002 D-class reinstated D-440 Brenda Reed 2002–2004 D-614 Flo and Dick Smith 2004–2012 D-753 Clive and Imelda Rawlings 2012–2024 D-885 2024–
B class Op.No. Name Class Comments B-540 Wolverhampton 1996 B-731 Dorothy Selina 1996–2010 2010–
Launch and recovery tractors Op.No. Reg. No. Type Comments TW05 1996–2002 TW04 TEL 705R Talus MB-764 County 2002–2010 TW48 V281 EUJ Talus MB-764 County 2010–2011 TW01 XTK 150M Talus MB-764 County 2011–2020 TW44 S193 RUJ Talus MB-764 County 2020–
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
References
External links Trearddur Bay RNLI Lifeboat Station