Padstow Lifeboat Station is at

Trevose Head Trevose Head ( kw, Penn Trenfos, meaning ''farm of the wall's headland'') () is a headland on the Atlantic coast of north Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately west of Padstow. The South West Coast Path runs around the whole pr ...

west of

Padstow Padstow (; kw, Lannwedhenek) is a town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately northwest of Wadebridge, ...

, in

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

. It is run by the

Royal National Lifeboat Institution The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. It i ...

(RNLI), and the current lifeboat is a Tamar class boat called ''Spirit of Padstow''.

History

* 4 January 1827 - The first lifeboat ''Mariners Friend'' was built by the Padstow Harbour Association and kept at Hawker's Cove. * 11 November 1829 - The first boathouse was built for the lifeboat by Padstow Harbour Association. * 22 December 1855 - Padstow branch of the

RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. It i ...

was formed. * 25 July 1856 - The arrival of the ''Albert Edward''. * 1863 - New boathouse built to take larger lifeboat. * December 1864 - Stone slipway added to boathouse. * 6 February 1867 - Five crewmen drowned (See Padstow Lifeboat disasters). * 15 August 1883 - Arrival of the ''Arab''. * 4 September 1883 - Carriage house for lifeboat built in Trethillick Lane. * 21 February 1899 - Arrival of the ''James Stevens No 4'' (a new steam lifeboat). * 11 April 1900 - Both lifeboats lost and eight crewmen drowned (See Padstow Lifeboat disasters). * 29 August 1901 - Arrival of the second ''Arab''. * 12 September 1901 - Arrival of the ''Edmund Harvey'' and steam tug ''Helen Peele''. * 10 August 1917 -

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...

commandeered ''Helen Peele'' for the duration of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. * April 1929 - Arrival of the ''Princess Mary''. * 1 June 1931 - Arrival of the ''John and Sarah Eliza Stych'' the station's first motor lifeboat. * 1931 - A new boathouse and roller slipway were built at Hawker's Cove for a second motor lifeboat (No.2). * 8 February 1938 - Station numbers change over. * 1 December 1947 - Arrival of the ''J.H.W'' from

Lytham Lytham St Annes () is a seaside town in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England. It is on the The Fylde, Fylde coast, directly south of Blackpool on the Ribble Estuary. The population at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 42,954 ...

St Anne's. * 14 August 1951 - Arrival of the ''Bassett Green''. * 30 November 1952 - Arrival of the ''James Hiram Chadwick''. * 22 May 1962 - The No.2 station closed because of silting. * 20 October 1967 - No 1 Station closed. * 20 October 1967 - A new boathouse and 240 ft slipway were opened at

. *19 July 1968 - New boathouse officially inaugurated; march 'The Padstow Lifeboat' commissioned from Cornwall-resident composer

Malcolm Arnold Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold (21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006) was an English composer. His works feature music in many genres, including a cycle of nine symphonies, numerous concertos, concert works, chamber music, choral music and music ...

for the occasion. * 20 October 1967 - Arrival of the ''James and Catherine MacFarlane''. * 1984 - The boathouse was adapted for the station's

Tyne class lifeboat The Tyne-class lifeboat was a class of lifeboat that served as a part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution fleet until 2019. They were named after the River Tyne in North East England. They were designed to be launched from slipways or ...

the ''James Burrough''. * 18 December 1984 - Arrival of the ''James Burrough''. * 1991 - Major repairs were carried out to the substructures of both the boathouse and slipway. * 24 July 1993 - Alan C. Tarby appointed

Coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boat ...

. * August 2006 - The new boathouse and slipway at

was opened. * August 2006 - The arrival of the ''Spirit of Padstow''.

Building description

The building was designed by

Royal Haskoning Royal HaskoningDHV is an international, non-listed engineering consultancy firm with headquarters in Amersfoort, Netherlands. It has offices in 30 countries, employing 5,800 professionals worldwide. Royal HaskoningDHV is active in aviation, build ...

engineers, with sub-consultants Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole architects, and John Martin Construction Ltd. The building won the 2007 Structural Award for Community Structures.

Fleet

Hawker's Cove Station

The Hawker's Cove station was known as the number 1 station from 1899 to 1938 and the number 2 station from 1938 to 1962. Station closed 1962

Camel estuary mooring

This was known as the number 2 station from 1899 to 1938 then the number 1 station from 1938 to 1962 Station closed 1967

Trevose Head Station

Awards and honours

Crew members from Padstow have been awarded 28 silver and two Bronze RNLI medals, in addition to a number of other RNLI awards, including:RNLI Station Guide: Padstow –Station history (Retrieved: 2 Jan 2021)
/ref> * 1911 - A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain William H Baker for rescuing the Master of the ship ''Angèle''. * 1928 - A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain William J Baker for rescuing 18 crew of the steamer . * 1929 - A Bronze Medal was awarded to Joseph Atkinson, Master of the steam tug ''Helen Peele'' for rescuing five crew from the wrecked fishing vessel ''Our Girlie'' on 27 November 1928. * 1945 - A Silver Medal was awarded to Second Motor Mechanic William Orchard for rescuing seven people from the steamer ''Sjofna'' on 23 November 1944. He also received the Maud Smith Award for the bravest act of life-saving in 1944. * 1946 - A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain John T Murt for rescuing 10 crew from the steamer ''Kedah''. * 1966 - A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Gordon Elliott and Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on

Vellum Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. Parchment is another term for this material, from which vellum is sometimes distinguished, when it is made from calfskin, as opposed to that made from other anima ...

to the crew for rescuing two men from the fishing vessel ''Deo Gratias'' that was in difficulties in a gale gusting to violent storm on 23 November 1965. * 1976 - Special framed certificates were presented to the

and crew after the lifeboat was severely damaged by a heavy sea causing injuries to the

coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boat ...

and some of the crew on 7 December. * 1977 - Silver Medals were awarded to Coxswain Anthony Warnock and Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Trevor England for saving two crew and a dog from the

yacht A yacht is a sailing or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a , as opposed to a , such a pleasu ...

''Calcutta Princess'' which was in difficulties close to rocks off

Dinas Head Dinas Island (Welsh: ''Ynys Dinas'') is a peninsula, partially detached from the mainland, in the community of Dinas Cross between Fishguard and Newport, Pembrokeshire, in southwest Wales. A triangulation point shows above sea level at Pen-y-f ...

. The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on

were awarded to the other members of the lifeboat crew. * 1979 - Special framed certificate was awarded to the Coxswain and crew for several services to numerous yachts in difficulties during the Fastnet Race on 14/15 August. * 1979 - A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Trevor England when the lifeboat stood by the Greek freighter ''Skopelos Sky'' in difficulty off

in a westerly hurricane and phenomenal seas on 15 December. Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on

were awarded to the crew and slipway helpers who were at times up to their necks in the sea getting the lifeboat back on her slipway. The winchman was presented with a Vellum Service Certificate. * 1 January 1988 - H.E.Murt awarded a BEM. * 1989 - A Framed Letter of Thanks was sent to the Coxswain and crew after the lifeboat stood by the cargo vessel ''

Secil Japan Semapa - Sociedade de Investimento e Gestão ( en, Semapa - Investment and Management Company) is a Portuguese conglomerate holding company with interests in the cement, pulp and paper and environmental services sectors. The company owns 76.7% ...

'' which had grounded on rocks in

Deadman's Cove Deadmans Cove or Dead Man Cove is a small settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located northeast of Anchor Point, Newfoundland. See also * List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador This article lists unincorporated co ...

. * 11 June 1992 - Trevor R England awarded a BEM.

Lifeboat disasters

* 6 February 1867 - During a service to the ''Georgiana'' five of the lifeboat crew drowned after the lifeboat capsized - Daniel Shea, William Intross, Thomas Varco, Andrew Truscott and Michael Crennel. A memorial to the men who died can be seen in St. Petroc's church, Padstow (just on the right through the door). * 11 April 1900 - With a strong WSW wind blowing, the ketch ''Peace and Plenty'' of

Lowestoft Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the most easterly UK settlement, it is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and sou ...

, struck on the Greenaway Rocks. Five of her crew were rescued by the Trebetherick Rocket Brigade and three were drowned. Meanwhile, at 18:30hrs the pulling lifeboat ''Arab'' was launched and when about 40 yards from the ''Peace and Plenty'' anchored in order to veer down on her. While at anchor the ''Arab'' was struck by a tremendous sea which buried the lifeboat, washed eight of her crew overboard and broke all 10 of her oars. The lifeboat was wrecked on the rocks but the crew reached shore safely. The steam lifeboat ''James Stevens No. 4'' then launched and, as she was leaving the harbour, she was caught by a heavy swell and capsized. Eight of her crew of eleven were drowned: Coxswain David Grubb, John W. Bate, James Grubb, E Kane, JS Martin, JB Old, J Stephens and S East. A memorial to the men can be seen in Padstow Cemetery.

References

* ''A Short History of the Padstow Lifeboat''

External links

The official website of Padstow Lifeboat Station

RNLI Station Guide - Padstow
{{DEFAULTSORT:Padstow Lifeboat Lifeboat stations in Cornwall Padstow