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Beaumaris Lifeboat Station

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Coordinates: 53°15′44.0″N 4°05′26.9″W / 53.262222°N 4.090806°W / 53.262222; -4.090806
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Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris Lifeboat Station is located in Anglesey
Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris, Anglesey
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationBeaumaris Lifeboat Station
AddressThe Green
Town or cityBeaumaris, Anglesey, LL58 8BS
CountryWales
Coordinates53°15′44.0″N 4°05′26.9″W / 53.262222°N 4.090806°W / 53.262222; -4.090806
Opened1891, Reopened 1914
Closed1896
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/beaumaris-lifeboat-station

Beaumaris Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Beaumaris, on the Isle of Anglesey, in Wales.

A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1891.[1]

For many years, Beaumaris was home to four different Inshore lifeboats, all named Blue Peter II after funds were raised by the BBC TV programme, but since 2010, the station has operated the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington (B-838).[2]

History

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On 7 November 1890, in very rough seas in the Menai Strait, the Penmon lifeboat Christopher Brown capsized after recovering 5 crew from the Undaunted, aground on Lavan Sands. The lifeboat self-righted, and all were recovered. Following this, the crew requested of the RNLI, that a larger sailing lifeboat be placed in the Menai Strait. Beaumaris Lifeboat Station started with the arrival of the 42-foot lifeboat Henry Dundas (ON 271), previously at St Mary's, on 6 October 1891. The boat was moored afloat, and renamed Tom and Jenny.[3]

The lifeboat was called on service 6 times over the following 4 years, rescuing 2 lives. However, in 1896, a new larger boat was placed at Penmon, and the Beaumaris station was closed on 16 April 1896. Tom and Jenny (ON 271) would be transferred to Rosslare Harbour, where she would serve for a further 15 years.[2]

In 1910, it was decided to re-open the Beaumaris station, and place a motor-powered lifeboat there. Construction began of a new boathouse, pier and deep-water roller-slipway near Tre-Castell Point, costing £4,500. An order was placed with Thames Ironworks for a 43-foot Watson-class lifeboat, with a 60 hp Tylor 'D' petrol engine, providing 7½ knots, and costing a further £3,727. Completed in August 1913, she was first taken to Cowes Regatta, where a short trip was taken by King George V. The boat remained in Cowes due to construction delays with the new boathouse, eventually arriving in Beaumaris in July 1914, where it would be named Frederick Kitchen (ON 621).[2] Over the following 31 years at Beaumaris, Frederick Kitchen would launch 38 times, and rescue 46. The Penmon station was subsequently closed on 31 March 1915.[3]

In 1966, the BBC TV programme Blue Peter launched an appeal for 60,000 paperback books, the sale of which would fund a new Inshore lifeboat for the RNLI. Such was the success of the appeal, that four new lifeboats were provided.[4] The BBC TV programme would eventually fund 28 lifeboats located around the UK and Northern Ireland.[2]

Beaumaris would receive their first Inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter II (D-127), in 1967. A small boathouse was erected near Victoria Terrace, replaced with a more permanent building nearer the pier in 1975. Further works were carried out to extend the building in 1983 and 1991, with a completely new station being built in 2000.[1]

Blue Peter II (D-127) would serve for 7 years, launching 123 times, and saving 45 lives. She would be replaced by a larger B-class (Atlantic 75) lifeboat in 1976, and two further Atlantic type boats, all named Blue Peter II.[2] After her service at Beaumaris, Blue Peter II (D-127) would go on display at Flambards Theme Park, Helston.[5]

In 1991, with a Mersey-class lifeboat stationed at Llandudno, and a Tyne-class lifeboat at Moelfre, it was decided to close the boathouse and slipway near Tre-Castell Point, which was subsequently demolished. Beaumaris lifeboat The Robert (ON 955) was withdrawn and retired from service on 7 July 1991.

In 2010, Beaumaris received their latest Inshore lifeboat, an B-class (Atlantic 85) lifeboat, Annette Mary Liddington (B-838), the boat being funded by local donations, and from the bequest of Mr John Grover Liddington, in memory of his mother.

Station honours

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The following are awards made at Beaumaris[1][6]

David Griffiths, Seaman - 1830
William Lewis Walker, Collegian - 1831 (Medal and Silver Boat, double award)
Ralph Williamson, Capt. of yacht Campeadora - 1831 (Medal and Silver Boat, double award)
David Gallichan, Coxswain - 1982
  • The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
John Charles Askew, Helmsman - 1976
David Jones, Helmsman - 1978
  • Vellum Service Certificates
John Askew, crew member - 1978
Simon Dubberley, crew member - 1978
Dr Jack Dubberley, crew member - 1978
  • A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
Beaumaris Coxswain and Crew - 1959
Martin Broughton, crew member - 1998

Beaumaris lifeboats and tractors

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All-weather lifeboats

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ON[a] Name In service[2] Class Comments
271 Tom and Jenny 1891–1896 42-foot 7in Self-Righting (P&S) [Note 1]
Station Closed 1896–1914
621 Frederick Kitchen 1914–1945 43ft Watson [Note 2]
846 Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts 1945–1977 46ft Watson [Note 3]
921 Greater London II
(Civil Service No.30) 		1977–1989 46ft 9in Watson
955 The Robert 1989–1991 47ft Watson
All-weather lifeboat withdrawn in 1991

Inshore lifeboats

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Op. No.[b] Name In service[2] Class Comments
D-127 Blue Peter II 1967–1976 D-class (RFD PB16) On display at Flambards Theme Park, Helston,
B-515 Blue Peter II 1976–1985 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-563 Blue Peter II 1985–2000 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-768 Blue Peter II 2000–2010 B-class (Atlantic 75)
B-838 Annette Mary Liddington 2010– B-class (Atlantic 85) [7]

Launch and recovery tractors

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Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type In service[2] Comments
TW02 LRU 581P Talus MB-764 County 1976–1987
TW13 D948 SAW Talus MB-764 County 1987–1996
TW08 D508 RUJ Talus MB-764 County 1996–2000
TW12 D508 RUJ Talus MB-764 County 2000–2008
TW10 VEL 99X Talus MB-764 County 2008–2010
TW13 D948 SAW Talus MB-764 County 2010–2021
TW12 D508 RUJ Talus MB-764 County 2021–
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 42-foot 7in Self-righting (P&S) lifeboat
  2. ^ 43-foot Watson non-self-righting (motor) lifeboat, built by Thames Ironworks, 60 hp, 7½ knots
  3. ^ 46-foot Watson non-self-righting (motor) lifeboat, built by Morgan Giles of Teignmouth, twin 40 hp diesel, 8½ knots

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Beaumaris' station history". Beaumaris Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  3. ^ a b Morris, Jeff (February 1997). The History of the Penmon and Beaumaris Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
  4. ^ "The Famous 'Blue Peter' Lifeboat Appeal". RNLI. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Blue Peter Lifeboat on display at Flambards". Flambards. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  6. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0-907605-89-3.
  7. ^ "Anglesey RNLI lifeboat called twice after dedication". BBC. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
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