Beaumaris Lifeboat Station

Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Gorsaf Bad Achub Beaumaris
Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris, Anglesey
General information
TypeRNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationBeaumaris Lifeboat Station, The Green, Beaumaris, Anglesey, LL58 8BS, Wales
Coordinates53°15′44.0″N 4°05′26.9″W / 53.262222°N 4.090806°W / 53.262222; -4.090806
Opened
  • 1891–1896
  • 1914–Present
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Beaumaris RNLI Lifeboat Station

Beaumaris Lifeboat Station is located at The Green in Beaumaris, a town overlooking the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait, on the south-east coast of the Isle of Anglesey, in North 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

On 7 November 1890, in rough seas and gale-force conditions, a vessel appeared to be in distress in the Menai Strait. The Penmon lifeboat Christopher Brown was launched, but on arrival, assistance was declined. With other vessels making for safety, the lifeboat stayed afloat, ready to assist. The schooner Undaunted of Plymouth was then seen flying signals of distress, having lost her anchor, and drifting towards the Lavan Sands.[3]

After rescuing the crew of five, the lifeboat was caught by a wave, and capsized. The boat soon self-righted, and all regained the boat, which was then beached at Aber on the mainland.[3]

Following this, the Penmon crew requested of the RNLI, that a larger sailing lifeboat be placed in the Menai Strait. Beaumaris Lifeboat Station was established with the arrival of the 42-foot lifeboat Henry Dundas (ON 271), previously at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, on 6 October 1891. The boat was moored afloat, and renamed Tom and Jenny.[4][5]

The lifeboat was called on service six times over the following four years, rescuing two 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.[6]

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). 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.[7][4]

In 1966, the BBC Television 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 Blue Peter lifeboats were provided.[8] The programme would eventually fund 28 lifeboats, located around the UK and Northern Ireland.[6]

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. After her service at Beaumaris, Blue Peter II (D-127) would go on display at Flambards Theme Park, Helston.[9][10]

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

The following are awards made at Beaumaris[1][11][4]

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, Helm – 1976
David Jones, Helm – 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

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats

ON[a] Name Built On station[12] Class Comments[13][14]
271 Tom and Jenny 1890 1891–1896 42-foot Self-Righting (P&S)
Station Closed 1896–1914

Motor lifeboats

ON[a] Name Built On station[12] Class Comments[14]
621 Frederick Kitchen 1913 1914–1945 43-foot Watson [Note 2]
846 Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts 1945 1945–1977 46-foot Watson [Note 3]
921
  • Greater London II
  • (Civil Service No.30)
 		1955 1977–1989 46-foot 9in Watson
955 The Robert 1960 1989–1991 47-foot Watson
All-weather lifeboat withdrawn in 1991

Inshore lifeboats

D-class

Op. No.[b] Name On station[9] Class Comments
D-127 Blue Peter II 1967–1976 D-class (RFD PB16) On display at Flambards Theme Park, Helston until 2025.

B-class

Op. No.[b] Name On station[15] Class Comments
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) [16]

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b] Reg. No. Type On station[17] 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. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b c Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 42-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of an anonymous donor "D", built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £667 when new.
  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

  1. ^ a b c "Beaumaris' station history". Beaumaris Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 84.
  3. ^ a b "Undaunted". The Lifeboat. XIV (159): 454–455. 2 February 1891. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Morris, Jeff (February 1997). The History of the Penmon and Beaumaris Lifeboats. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 1–50.
  5. ^ "Additional Stations and New Life-Boats". The Lifeboat. XIV (162): 647–648. 2 November 1891. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  6. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 26–27.
  7. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 40–41.
  8. ^ "The Famous 'Blue Peter' Lifeboat Appeal". RNLI. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 88.
  10. ^ "Blue Peter Lifeboat on display at Flambards". Flambards. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  11. ^ Cox, Barry (1998). Lifeboat Gallantry. Spink & Son Ltd. ISBN 0907605893.
  12. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 26–57.
  13. ^ Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 73.
  14. ^ a b Farr & Morris 1992, pp. 1–88.
  15. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 80–84.
  16. ^ "Anglesey RNLI lifeboat called twice after dedication". BBC. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  17. ^ Leonard & Denton 2025, p. 107.
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