Beaumaris 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.

Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Beaumaris, Anglesey
General information
Type	RNLI Lifeboat Station
Location	Beaumaris Lifeboat Station
Address	The Green
Town or city	Beaumaris, Anglesey, LL58 8BS
Country	Wales
Coordinates	53°15′44.0″N 4°05′26.9″W
Opened	1891–1896 1914–
Owner	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Beaumaris RNLI Lifeboat Station

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 very rough seas in the Menai Strait, the Penmon lifeboat Christopher Brown capsized after recovering 5 crew from the Undaunted, aground on Lavan Sands. The lifeboat self-righted, and all were recovered. Following this, the crew requested of the RNLI, that a larger sailing lifeboat be placed in the Menai Strait. Beaumaris Lifeboat Station started 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.^[3]

The lifeboat was called on service 6 times over the following 4 years, rescuing 2 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.^[4]

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.^[5][3]

In 1966, the BBC TV 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 lifeboats were provided.^[6] The BBC TV programme would eventually fund 28 lifeboats located around the UK and Northern Ireland.^[4]

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.^[7][8]

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][9][3]

• RNIPLS Silver Medal

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)

• RNLI Bronze Medal

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

All-weather lifeboats

ON[a]	Name	On Station[10]	Class	Comments
271	Tom and Jenny	1891–1896	42-foot Self-Righting (P&S)	[Note 1]
Station Closed 1896–1914
621	Frederick Kitchen	1914–1945	43-foot Watson	[Note 2]
846	Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts	1945–1977	46-foot Watson	[Note 3]
921	Greater London II (Civil Service No.30)	1977–1989	46-foot 9in Watson
955	The Robert	1989–1991	47-foot Watson

All-weather lifeboat withdrawn in 1991

Inshore lifeboats

D-class

Op. No.[b]	Name	On Station[7]	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[11]	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)	[12]

Launch and recovery tractors

Op. No.[b]	Reg. No.	Type	On Station[13]	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. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
2. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

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

Notes

1. 42-foot x 11-foot (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat
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