Alderney History

1865 A Silver Medal was awarded to Gunner James Moore of the Royal Artillery for rescuing 17 men from the ship Carioca.

1869 A lifeboat station was established and a boathouse was built at St Anne costing £235. The lifeboat was carried on a carriage to launch from any of the island’s beaches.

1884 The lifeboat station closed as so many fishermen had left the island and it was difficult getting a crew. The lifeboat was transferred to St. Helier.

1984 The station reopened. A 33ft Brede class lifeboat Foresters Future was sent to the station for a 12-month operational evaluation period.

1985 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Stephen Shaw for rescuing nine crew and the yacht Sea Keveral on 5 May.

The Duchess of Kent officially opened the station on 10 May. She also presented Mr John Kay-Mouat, President of the States of Alderney, with the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for the lifesaving work during the 100 years in which there was no lifeboat on the island.

1986 During a summer with storm force winds several rescues were worthy of awards:

4 May   Bronze Medal to Coxswain Stephen Shaw and the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Assistant Mechanic Michael O’Gorman for rescuing four crew and saving the yacht Sea Victor.

25 August Bronze Medals to Coxswain Stephen Shaw and Second Coxswain Martin Harwood and Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Mechanic Nigel Rose, Assistant Mechanic Michael O’Gorman and Crew Member James McDonald for rescuing six people from the yacht Seylla II.

26 August  Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Coxswain Stephen Shaw and Second Coxswain Martin Harwood for rescuing the sole occupant and the yacht Gypsy Rover.

1987  A new building was completed providing improved crew facilities, fuel store and workshop.
 
The Waveney class lifeboat Louis Marchesi of Round Table arrived at the station.

1994 The Waveney class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by the RNLI’s first Trent class lifeboat.

1995 The Trent class lifeboat Roy Barker I was placed on service in July.

1997  An inshore lifeboat station was established and a D class lifeboat was placed on service.

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Coxswain Stephen Shaw and Second Coxswain Martin Harwood for rescuing five crew and saving the yacht Parthia.

2002 Mr Stephen Shaw, lately Coxswain, was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in her Birthday Honours.

 The following awards were made for a service to two girls and a man who were swept into the sea off the causeway at Fort Clonque on 9 August:
 Bronze Medal to Helmsman Philip Murray; Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum to Crew Member Mark Gaudion and Station Honorary Secretary David McAllister; and Framed Letters of Thanks to Crew Members Francois Jean and Wayne Chandler.

2007 Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum were accorded to Coxswain Declan Gaudion, Deputy Second Coxswain Steven Wright and Crew Member Dean Geran for saving two men and a dog from the converted fishing vessel Abundance on the night of 4 July in heavy seas and gale-force winds.
Station honours

At Alderney lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 15

Bronze Medal 4

Silver Medal 1