BARMOUTH RNLI REMEMBER ABSENT FRIENDS

In a tragic incident on 5 April 2004 the then Harbour Master, Keith Allday, and his Assistant Harbour Master, Alan Massey, were both drowned while laying moorings in the harbour. Keith had been Coxswain of the lifeboat since 1993 and Alan was also helm of the inshore lifeboat.

Both Barmouth lifeboats were launched and a massive air and sea search was launched after their vessel was found upturned.

It was a very sad time for the lifeboat and for the whole town; losing such popular and likeable young men in the prime of their life was very hard to bear. Keith and Alan are still remembered with extreme fondness by the volunteer crew and RNLI supporters at Barmouth and many emotional messages were posted on social media.

To mark the occasion, volunteers launched the boat that Keith and Alan served on, the all-weather lifeboat the Moira Barrie, in their memory. Together with volunteers on the inshore lifeboat, the Craig Steadman, the crew paid their respects to their colleagues out at sea.

Barmouth Coxswain Peter Davies, who took over as Coxswain in 2004 said:

‘We are proud that members of both families are still represented on the crew. Keith’s daughter and nephew are volunteer crew members, together with Alan’s brother Gary and his son Angus, while Keith’s brother Colin holds the position of Deputy Launching Authority. We will always remember them both and each year we mark the anniversary privately’.

For more information please contact Norma Stockford, Barmouth Lifeboat Press Officer on 07917 245882 or Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer – Wales and North West on 07771 941390 / 01745 585162

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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