Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Station

Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Station is located in Weston-super-Mare, a seaside town and resort approximately 20 miles (32 km) south-west of Bristol, on the south / east shore of the Bristol Channel, in Somerset, England.

A lifeboat station was established at Weston-super-Mare in 1882 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). For more than 100 years it was situated on Birnbeck Island but is now temporarily accommodated at Knightstone Harbour, until a new lifeboat station can be built nearby.^[2]

The station currently operates a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Alexander (B-875), on station since 2023, and the smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, The Adrian Beaumont (D-832), on station since 2018.^[3]

At a meeting of the RNLI committee of management, on Thursday 1 June 1882, following a visit to the town by the Chief Inspector of Lifeboats, it was decided to establish a lifeboat station at Weston-super-Mare, and that the cost of the station would be defrayed from the legacy of £500 from the late Colonel William James Holt, provided for the placement of a lifeboat on the shores of the Bristol Channel.^[4][5]

The Bristol Channel has an extreme tidal range which made it difficult for the RNLI to find a site from which a lifeboat could be easily launched at all states of the tide. In 1882 they installed davits on Birnbeck Pier, which linked the mainland with Birnbeck Island, from which the lifeboat could be launched, like a ship's lifeboat, into the water below, even at low tide. A much smaller than usual lifeboat, at just 25-foot (7.6 m), but suited to launch by davit, was sent to the station on 5 November 1882, and named William James Holt (ON 249), as per the donor's wishes.^[6]

On 22 September 1884, after departing the Pier at Weston-super-Mare bound for Bristol, the steamship S.S. Welsh Prince of Newport suffered a fouled propeller, and drifted ashore at Sand Bay. In a strong NW wind and rough seas, the William James Holt was launched, and 40 passengers were taken off the vessel in two trips. The vessel was later re-floated.^[7]

A new lifeboat house was constructed on the north east side of Birnbeck Island in 1889, at a cost of £718-1s-4d, along with a 100 feet (30 m) slipway. This coincided with the arrival of a new much larger 34-foot (10 m) lifeboat, again provided from the legacy of Col. Holt, and again named William James Holt (ON 249).^[8][9]

The planned arrival of a larger 38-foot (12 m) Watson-class lifeboat in 1903 prompted the construction of a new boathouse in 1902, this time on the south-east side of the island. To accommodate the extreme tidal range, it required the construction of the longest lifeboat slipway in England, measuring 368 feet (112 m). The lifeboat was funded from the legacy of the late Mrs A. S. Stock of Weston-super-Mare, and was named Colonel Stock (ON 488) at her request.^[6][10][11]

It would be thirty years later in 1933, when a motor-powered lifeboat was assigned to Weston-super-Mare. The lifeboat, a 35-foot-6-inch (10.82 m) Liverpool-class, was the first motor lifeboat to be stationed in Somerset, and was one of five lifeboats funded from the legacy of the late Mr C.C. Ashley, who died in Menton, France in 1906. At a ceremony held on 27 June 1934, the new lifeboat was presented to the Institution by Mr. Charles S. Weir, LLB, on behalf of the donor. She was received by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt, chairman of the Institution, who then presented the boat to the Weston-super-Mare branch. After a dedication by the Rev. Prebendary G. L. Porcher, rector of Weston-super-Mare, the lifeboat was named Fifi and Charles (ON 765) by H.R.H. Prince George, Duke of Kent, the boat taking the name of a previous lifeboat funded by Mr Ashley, Fifi and Charles (ON 577), which had served at Redcar from 1907 to 1931.^[12]

In 1964, in response to an increasing amount of water-based leisure activity, the RNLI placed 25 small fast Inshore lifeboats around the country. These were easily launched with just a few people, ideal to respond quickly to local emergencies. In 1966, an Inshore lifeboat, (D-83), was placed at Weston-super-Mare.^[13][14]

In 1969, the Calouste Gulbenkian (ON 961) was sent away for maintenance. The relief lifeboat Rachel and Mary Evans (ON 806) was placed on station, but at 41-foot (12 m), was to long for the boathouse, and was moored off the pier. On 12 March 1969, in 50-knot gale-force conditions, the lifeboat broke free from her moorings, and was wrecked on Birnbeck Island. Subsequent examination at Barry Dock showed she was a complete write-off, and was broken up and salvaged for parts.^[15][16]

It was decided to withdraw the conventional motor-lifeboat from Weston-super-Mare, and place one of the new small fast A-class (McLachlan) (18-004) lifeboats on station. The 18-foot (5.5 m) lifeboat was initially designated as an Offshore lifeboat. Until the new boat was ready, the station operated two D-class Inshore lifeboats. Calouste Gulbenkian would never return to Weston, and was re-assigned first to the relief fleet, and for a short period at New Quay at the end of her service life in 1990. The lifeboat house was retained, and both boats could be launched down the slipway on a special carriage.^[15][17]

In 1973, the A-class (McLachlan) lifeboats were formally re-designated as Inshore lifeboats, and renumbered as A-class lifeboats. A-504 continued to serve at Weston until 1983, when she was replaced by the 7.21 m (23.7 ft) B-class (Atlantic 21) Weston Centenary (B-557).^[18]

A heavy storm in 1991 damaged a large part of the slipway. Repairs were undertaken by the following summer, with the two ILBs meanwhile moored afloat in the River Axe at Uphill. In 2007 the poor condition of the slipway again forced its closure. The launch site moved to an old slipway on the north side of the island. The crews continued to use the 1889 boathouse, but the lifeboats were kept on their launch trolleys on Birnbeck Island outside the boathouse. In April 2011 a new "temporary" boathouse was erected to give them cover. This cost £70,000 but can be removed once permanent facilities can be provided again and then reused elsewhere.^[2][19]

The pier has been in poor condition for many years and has been closed to the public since 1994. The RNLI has laid boards on top of it to provide a safer access route for their volunteers but since December 2013 a portable building has been situated adjacent to the Marine Lake and the lifeboat can be launched using the slipway into Knightstone Harbour. This is not possible, however, at low tide. The larger lifeboat remained in the 'temporary' building on Birnbeck Pier for a while from which it could be launched when required at any state of the tide but only "when there is a significant risk to life".^[20] It has since joined the smaller D-class boat at Knightstone. In 2015 the RNLI announced that it would seek planning permission for a permanent lifeboat station at Knightstone Harbour along with deep-water anchorage at Anchor Head.^[21]

However it was revealed in 2020 that the RNLI could potentially take ownership of Birnbeck, which is subject to a compulsory purchase order by the local council.^[22]

North Somerset Council bought Birnbeck Pier in July 2023 with the intention of repairing and restoring it and returning the lifeboat station Birnbeck island. The RNLI withdrew from the project in June 2025 due to concerns about financing the repairs and maintaining the pier when they were complete.^[23][24]

The first lifeboat at Weston-super-Mare was on station for seven years but it was only involved in two rescues, including the SS Welsh Prince.^[6] In all, the pulling and sailing lifeboats that were stationed at Weston-super-Mare during the 51 years from 1882 to 1933 were only called out on 12 services and rescued 55 people. The motor lifeboats over the next 36 years were called out 104 times and rescued 89 people.^[25]

In common with other lifeboat stations, the number of service calls has increased significantly since the 1960s due to the rise in leisure craft and swimmers. A-504, the first large ILB, rescued 65 people in 172 services during its 13 years at Weston-super-Mare; the other ILBs have now made well over 1,000 service launches.^[25] Weston-super-Mare is the busiest RNLI station on the south side of the Bristol Channel. In 2010 it was called into action on 47 occasions, rescuing 27 people and a dog which had fallen down a cliff;^[26] in 2011 there were 42 launches totalling 133 hours at sea and resulting in the rescue of 19 people.^[27]

Late in the evening of 13 September 1975, ILB A-504 was launched info a Force 9 gale in response to a report of red flares being seen off Brean Down, the promontory on the south side of Weston Bay. The crew found a motor boat on rocks in a cove below Brean Down, with people both in the water and on the cliff above the boat. An anchor was dropped and the lifeboat used the tide to bring it as close as possible to the shore, the motors being lifted out of the water to allow it to get as closer. The people were then hauled through the water attached to a safety line. Helm Julian Morris was awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal for his outstanding seamanship, great skill and tremendous courage.^[28]

On the afternoon of 20 July 1986, Helm Morris took Weston Centenary to Brean Down to rescue two young boys who had been trapped by the tide, but he could only get to within 40 yards (37 m) of the shore. Lifeboat man Richard Spindler volunteered to swim through the 5 feet (1.5 m) high surf several times to take life-jackets to the boys and bring them back to the lifeboat. For this service, he was accorded "The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum".^[29]

The Atlantic 85 can go out in Force 7 winds (Force 6 at night) and can operate at up to 32 knots (59 km/h) for 2½ hours.^[30] Adjacent ILBs are stationed at Burnham-on-Sea to the south, and Portishead to the north. If a larger All-weather boat is needed in the area, a Shannon-class is stationed across the Bristol Channel at Barry Dock.^[31]

The following are awards made at Weston-super-Mare.^[2][6][32]

• RNLI Bronze Medal

Julian Morris, Helm – 1975

• The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum

Bernard Watts – 1975

Ian Watts – 1975

Nicholas White, Helm – 1978

Richard Spindler, crew member – 1978

Anthony Blizzard, crew member – 1978

Richard Spindler, crew member – 1986

• Vellum Service Certificates

Julian Morris, Helm – 1978

Michael Hawkins – 1978

Julian Morris, Helm – 1986

Michael Hawkins, crew member – 1986

Nicholas White, crew member – 1986

• The Ralph Glister Award 1978
  (for the most meritorious service of the year performed by a rescue boat crew)

Nicholas White, Helm – 1978

Richard Spindler, crew member – 1978

Anthony Blizzard, crew member – 1978

• Testimonial on Parchment, awarded by the Royal Humane Society

Richard Spindler, crew member – 1978

Anthony Blizzard, crew member – 1978

• Certificate of Commendation, awarded by the Royal Humane Society

Nicholas White, Helm – 1978

• Letters of Thanks signed by the Secretary of the Institution

Coxswain and crew of the Fifi and Charles – 1935

Bernard Watts – 1969

Michael Watts – 1969

• A Letter of Thanks signed by the Director of the Institution

Mr John Dark, yacht owner

• Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Richard Spindler, Volunteer – 2016NYH^[33]

Michael Buckland, Former Helm, Lifeboat Operations Manager – 2023KBH^[34]

• British Empire Medal

Josephine Morea Allam, RNLI fundraising, W-S-M – 1983QBH^[35]

Peter William Elmont, Chair, RNLI fundraising, W-S-M – 2021NYH^[36]

• A-504
  (1970–1983)
• Coventry & Warwickshire (2001–2018)
• Anna Stock
  (2008–2018)
• The Adrian Beaumont (From 2018)

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

• Crockford-Hawley, John (2015). Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Station. Poole: RNLI.

• Official station website
• RNLI station information