Port Isaac History

1859 A Silver Medal was awarded to Charles Mitchell, a local fisherman, for rescuing four crew from the sloop Busy.

1869 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built on a hill leading down to the east side of the bay.

1870 A Silver Medal was awarded to Fisherman Charles Mitchell for helping to save five people from the brigantine Stephano Grosso.

1895 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain James Hayes for ‘his good services rendered for many years past’.

1927 A new boathouse was built at the head of the beach.

1933 The all weather lifeboat was withdrawn and the lifeboat station closed.

1967 The station was re-opened and an inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established in June with a D class lifeboat.

1975 A Certificate of Merit was awarded to the station by the RSPCA after the ILB had helped when 30 bullocks plunged over a cliff at Port Quin on 5 October.

1977 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Clive F Martin for his skill and determination when he took the ILB ashore through heavy breaking surf to rescue a seriously injured man who had fallen from the cliffs at Jackets Point on 4 May.

1978 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Mark J Provis and Crew Member Edward J Fletcher for rescuing a boy trapped on a narrow ledge near the base of the cliffs at Bessiney.

1994 The 1927 boathouse was re-acquired and was refurbished, providing accommodation for the lifeboat and crew facilities.

1997 A new D class lifeboat, D-517, was placed on service on 29 May.

1998 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Helmsman Kevin Dingle and Crew Member Mike Edkins, and Framed Letters Thanks were awarded to Crew Member Paul Pollington and Auxiliary Coastguard Kenneth C Richards when the inshore lifeboat launched to a father and son washed into a cave in Bossiney Cove on 6 September. During the rescue the surging swell washed two of the lifeboat crew into the cave and the third had to be winched to safety by helicopter.

1999 A new D class lifeboat, D-546 Spirit of the PCS RE II, was placed on service on 3 June.

2001 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station in celebration of 100 years of service.

Station honours

At Port Isaac lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 2
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 5
Silver Medal 3