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Borth RNLI Celebrates 50 years of saving lives at sea

Lifeboats News Release

Borth RNLI lifeboat station is holding a celebration for invited guests on Saturday 11 June to acknowledged the support and contribution of all our volunteer crew, officials, fundraisers and shop volunteers, over the 50 years of the station's history.

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On 14 June 1966 Borth RNLI lifeboat station, which is operated entirely by volunteers, was established at the south end of Borth beach. A small timber boathouse was built to house a D class inshore lifeboat. The D class lifeboat is small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescues close to shore in fair to moderate conditions.
 
In 1966 there was no slipway in Borth so the lifeboat had to be manhandled down the shingles for launching. The boat would be carried up the shingle bank during recovery, an operation requiring quite a few volunteers.
 
The station was initially a summer only station becoming a full year round station in 1992.
 
In 1987 a purpose-built brick boathouse was completed, replacing the old timber building and providing much improved facilities for the crew. Then in 2007 the current lifeboat station was built, combined with the HM Coastguard station which adjoins it.
The 2007 station provides for an RNLI Shop, much improved training and changing facilities for the crews and a casualty care room.
 
Ron Davies, the current Lifeboat Operations Manager in Borth, was a crew member, aged just 17, when the station was opened and has provided continuous service throughout the fifty years that the station has operated. Ron has been recognised on two occasions for gallantry during rescues and in 2001 Ron was presented with the Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE).
 
One of the original founders of the station Aran Morris was recognised with a Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to maritime safety in 2008. Mr Morris said memories of stranded sailors in the Arctic during World War II had inspired him to press for the lifeboat station because it used to take rescuers about 20 minutes to reach Borth from Aberystwyth and Aberdyfi during an emergency. Aran died, aged 90, in September 2009.
 
At Borth lifeboat station the following service recognition awards have been made:
Bronze Medal: Amos Bewick in 2001.
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum: Ron Davies in 1978 and again in 1987.
Vellum Certificates: Dilwyn Owen and Richard Jeremy in 1978.
Framed Letter of Thanks: Louis Delahaye and Andrew Doyle in1987, Richard Jenkins in 1998.
Letters of Appreciation: Stuart Taylor and Lee Trubshaw in 1998.
Medal service certificates and badges: Martyn Davies and Alex Shepard in 2001.
 
 
For more information contact Dave Reynolds dave_reynolds@rnli,org.uk 07941 526437.
 
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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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Dave Reynolds

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