Weston-super-Mare History

1882 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and the lifeboat was kept on davits on Birnbeck Pier.

1889 A new boathouse and 100ft slipway were built on Birnbeck Island.

1903 A new boathouse and 368ft slipway were built for a larger lifeboat.

1933 The station’s first motor lifeboat, Fifi and Charles, was the first motor lifeboat to be placed on the Somerset coast.

1961 The boathouse was adapted for an Oakley class lifeboat.

1966 An inshore lifeboat station was established with a D class lifeboat.

1969 A second D class lifeboat was sent to the station when the all weather lifeboat coverage was withdrawn following the loss of the lifeboat after she broke her moorings and was wrecked on 12 April.

1970 In May one of the D class lifeboats was withdrawn and replaced by a McLachlan lifeboat.

1975 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Julian Morris when the McLachlan lifeboat rescued five men from the motor boat 4D.

1979 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Nicholas White and Crew Members Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard when the D class lifeboat rescued three boys, who were trapped by the tide in a cave, and two Coastguards, who had gone to their assistance on 12 November 1978. The Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious inshore lifeboat service in 1978 was made to the crew for this service. The Royal Humane Society also awarded their testimonial on parchment to Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard and a certificate of commendation to Nicholas White.

1982 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1983 The McLachlan lifeboat was replaced by a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

1986 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Crew Member Richard Spindler when he swam from the lifeboat to rescue two boys cut off by the tide at Brean Down on 20 July.

1991/2 During the winter a westerly storm force 11 wind, gusting to force 12, badly damaged the slipway and the top two thirds had to be replaced during the spring and summer of 1992. During this time both lifeboats were re-located to afloat moorings in the River Axe estuary at Uphill.

1998 The D class, D-537 Faith, was placed on service.

2001 The Atlantic 75, B-769 Coventry and Warwickshire, replaced the Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Helmsman Peter Watts for carrying out a search in poor weather conditions and in a treacherous area of surf close inshore on the night of 7 October.

2007 The reinstatement of a derelict slipway and temporary boat facilities was completed in July.
Station Honours

At Weston-super-Mare lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 4

Bronze Medal 1