The first lifeboat was stationed at Buddon Ness in 1830 by the River Tay Lifeboat Society. It was supported by a tax on vessels entering the Tay. A lifeboat was placed at Broughty Ferry in 1859. Both stations were taken over from the local Lifeboat Committee by the Institution in 1861. The Buddon Ness Station was closed in 1894.
1828
Silver Medal awarded to Daniel Kidd and £10 to him and eight other men for rescuing three of the crew of the schooner Fancy which was wrecked off Broughty Ferry on 9 February 1828.
1837
Silver Medal awarded to Lieut Peter Stark RN for putting off in the lifeboat with 14 other men in a high sea and rescuing the crew of three of the Brig Two Sisters of Kirkcaldy to Dundee with a cargo of coal on 11 April 1837. The three men were taken off the mast which was the only part of the vessel left above water.
1838
Gold Medal awarded to Lieut Peter Stark RN for the rescue of J Gallently, the master, and four men from the schooner Ranger of Perth, wrecked on the Banks of the Tay on 4 March 1838.
1863
The Buddon Ness lifeboat was fouled and stove in by some small vessel and driven from her moorings and sank. She was later recovered but condemned and the station was temporarily closed until a new lifeboat was sent in 1867.
1889
Slipway constructed at a cost of £130.
1908
George Peebles was appointed Motor Mechanic at 5/- per week.
1909
New lifeboat house and slipway constructed at a cost of £1,700. Death reported of Mr James Hunter who had been Honorary Secretary for 45 years.
1920
Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Charles Gall for the rescue of six pilots from the cutter Daydream that was totally wrecked during a strong easterly gale and very heavy sea on 11 April 1920. The lifeboat was launched at 0105 and it was not until five attempts had been made that the five men aboard were saved. The lifeboat then searched for and found another pilot who was adrift in the cutter's small boat.
1931
Centenary Vellum awarded.
1940
Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain James Coull and Bronze Medal to Acting Second Coxswain George B Smith and Motor Mechanic John Grieve for the rescue of nine from the steam trawler Quixotic of Aberdeen, which had run onto the Bell Rock on 5 December 1939. A fresh north easterly wind was blowing with squalls of sleet. A heavy swell was running it was bitterly cold and the night was dark. The bow of the Quixotic was on the rocks, she was lying on her port bilge and her stern was under water to nearly amidships. There was so little water that it was impossible for the lifeboat to get under the lee of the vessel.
1959
On 8 December the lifeboat Mona, first stationed at Broughty Ferry in 1935, was launched to the help of the North Carr light-vessel that had been reported broken adrift. Weather conditions were exceptionally severe with a strong south-easterly gale blowing across the entrance to the River Tay. Certain navigational buoys had been driven by the atrocious weather from their positions. In the early hours of the morning the lifeboat unfortunately capsized and her crew of eight were drowned. Their names were D G Anderson, J Ferrier, A S Gall, R Grant, J Grieve, J J Grieve, G B Smith and G Watson.
1962
On 3 June the Lord Provost McManus unveiled a memorial plaque on the north wall of the lifeboat house to the eight men who lost their lives in the lifeboat disaster of 8 December 1959.
1964
D class lifeboat sent to station in April, the first in Scotland.
1978
Watson class lifeboat withdrawn and replaced by an Arun.
1980
150th Anniversary Vellum awarded.
1998
New D class lifeboat D539 was placed on service in September.
1999
New Arun class lifeboat placed on service on 20 January.
2001
Work commenced on new landing stage.
STATION RECORD
Buddon Ness 1830-1863 No record . 1867-1894 Launches 12. Lives saved 15
MEDAL RECORD
Seven medals have been awarded – one Gold, three Silver and three Bronze, the last being voted in 1940.