Exmouth History
1803 The first lifeboat house was built neat Passage House and the first lifeboat was built by Henry Greathead.
1814 The boathouse was washed away during a storm.
1831 A Silver Medal was awarded to Chief Officer Coastguard Lieut John Sergeant for rescuing seven crew from the brigantine Unity.
1851 A Silver Medal was awarded to Thomas Pincomb Jnr for attempting to rescue the crew of the wrecked brigantine Maria.
1859 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built on the beach.
1894 Silver Medals were awarded to John Bradford, Uriah Bradford and George Prowse for rescuing the six crew from the schooner John Gronsind.
1903 A new boathouse was built on the existing site.
1907 Coxswain HC Squire collapsed and died as he helped to launch the lifeboat.
1930 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1933 The station’s first motor lifeboat was placed on service.
1938 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Thomas Horne for the launch and eight-hour search after rockets were seen off Lyme Regis. Thirty-two launchers took part and it took four attempts to launch the lifeboat through the heavy surf.
1953 A commemorative Vellum was awarded to the station for 150 years of service.
1954 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Harold Bradford for rescuing the five crew from the cabin cruiser Nicky.
1956 On 25 December the lifeboat was struck by heavy seas and Second Coxswain Phillips and Crew Member W Carder were washed overboard. Both men were found but W Carder could not be revived.
1961 The lifeboat was placed on moorings in the estuary off Exmouth Docks.
1966 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established with a D class lifeboat. The ILB was kept in the 1903 boathouse and launched across the beach.
1966 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Coxswain Brian Rowsell and Crew Member Peter Rowsell when three bathers were rescued in a heavy sea two miles south west of Exmouth.
1981 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain Brian Rowsell for rescuing two crew from the yacht Michelle in the station's boarding boat. Mr M Clifton, a former ILB crew member assisted and was sent a Director’s Letter of Appreciation.
1985 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Crew Member Geoffrey Ingram for entering the sea from the lifeboat to rescue two girls who were in difficulty after a speedboat sank.
1996 The Waveney class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by the current Trent class lifeboat Forward Birmingham.
1997 The D class lifeboat, D-516 Spirit of the Exe, was placed on service.
2003 The station was presented with a commemorative Vellum celebrating 200 years as a lifeboat station.
2006 The new D class lifeboat George Bearman was placed on service on 27 September.
Station honours
At Exmouth lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 4
Bronze Medal 1
Silver Medal 5
