RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station celebrates 150th anniversary
Wells Lifeboat Station is celebrating its 150th anniversary as an RNLI Lifeboat Station this year and is hosting a week of activities as well as an exhibition reflecting the community’s commitment to saving lives at sea for more than one-and-a-half centuries.
The RNLI took over operation at the Wells-next-the-Sea in 1869 and the station's first lifeboat was named the Eliza Adams.
The exhibition, celebrating the anniversary, opens at the Maltings, Staithe Street on Wednesday 10 July and runs until Tuesday 16 July. It will show a collection of paintings and photographs together with memorabilia portraying the 150 years of the station. It will also include information on how to volunteer for the RNLI today.
Several other events have been organised for the week as well as a raffle with prizes reflecting our nautical heritage. More details can be found on our website, Quay magazine and posters in the town.
Dates for your Diary:
Thursday 11 July, 7.00pm: ‘Saving lives At Sea’ videos at The Maltings from the popular TV programme showing real-life footage of rescues. A panel of serving crew will be on hand to offer their insights and tell you what it’s really like. Tickets £5.
Friday 12 July, 7.00pm: Fish & Chips Supper and Shanty Evening with The Blakeney Wild Rovers at Wells Sailing Club.
On Saturday 13 July, the outer Harbour pontoons will be open to the public from 11am offering access to view historic lifeboats. At 12 noon the Chief Executive of the RNLI, Mark Dowie, will present the Station with a commemorative vellum at a private ceremony at the boathouse.
Continuing the celebrations, at 2.00pm the boathouse will be open to the public and light refreshments will be on sale. From 4.30pm, the Wells all-weather lifeboat, Doris M Mann of Ampthill, and the inshore lifeboat, Peter Wilcox, will lead a flotilla of lifeboats, past and present, up through the main quay. Visitors are welcome to watch the procession from the quay. The boats will return to the boathouse for recovery and members of the public will be able to watch this from the Beach Bank at the beach end.
Monday 15 July, 7.00pm: Film Night at the Maltings Cinema showing ‘The Perfect Storm’ starring George Clooney. Tickets £5.
Tuesday 16 July: Lifeboat Dinner at the Crown Hotel. Numbers limited. Tickets £35.
For further information contact:
John Mitchell, Wells Lifeboat Press Officer.
Mob: 07831 103166 Tel: 01328 710882 Email: [email protected]
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.