RNLI marks 10 years of lifesaving in Portishead

In the past 10 years Portishead RNLI volunteers have been called out 396 times, saved 14 lives, assisted 347 people and 17 dogs. There has also been a huge increase in support from the local community and water users in the Bristol Channel.

The station volunteers will be celebrating this milestone at their annual open day on 18^th May.

Back in 2012, it was agreed with both charities that once an appropriate location was found for a new lifeboat station, the RNLI would take over operations and continue with the lifesaving service.

Operating from Sugar Loaf Beach in Portishead the volunteers of Portishead Lifeboat Trust had a lot to deal with. Their lifeboat station was an old shipping container, which belonged to the Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club. With no private changing area, even privacy from the public eye was not an option, no toilet, not even the ability to make a hot cup of tea or coffee after a gruelling shout, the facilities were as basic as can be. The volunteers were overjoyed at the news of the adoption into the RNLI family.

Months of research began looking for a new site and thanks to a local Masons group in Portishead, a perfect location was found. The building work commenced in March 2014 with the demolition of the old Masonic Lodge. It was agreed that the new building would provide a safe and secure home for the volunteers to operate from.

Tom Mansell, RNLI Regional Operations Lead said, ‘Portishead should be proud of their reputation within the RNLI as an excellent lifeboat station. Providing a lifesaving service to their community and those who use the sea and surrounding coastline in the area. Having been an independent lifeboat service prior to joining the RNLI family they have a proud tradition and I am extremely grateful for the dedication and professionalism they show on a daily basis for this very important task. Well done and thank you to all the volunteers involved'.

After 12 months of construction and many hours of training from their new location the volunteers and staff from the RNLI declared the new lifeboat station operational on 24th April 2015. It was a big day for all involved and a proud time for everyone including members of the public, to see the RNLI flag being hoisted up the flag pole for the first time.

The first lifeboat to operate from the new state of the art lifeboat station was an inshore B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat, ‘Spirit of Clovelly’. Being part of the RNLI’s relief fleet, she was only going to be on service for a few months whilst the volunteers awaited delivery of their brand new inshore B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, ‘My Lady Anne’, which was delivered in September. The volunteers were tasked for their first call out just two and a half weeks after taking up residency in their new lifeboat station.

In the years of operation the Portishead Lifeboat Trust’s volunteer crew were called out 365 times, saving 14 lives and assisted 466 people to safety. And since becoming Portishead RNLI they have launched 396 times, saved 14 lives, assisted 347 people and 17 dogs.

All of these rescues were undertaken in an area that has the second highest tidal range in the world and where strong tides, dangerous shoals, steep and unpredictable seas, along with a high density of shipping, make for extremely challenging and hazardous conditions for even the most experienced mariner.

The volunteers will be celebrating their birthday officially at their annual Open Day which will be held at the lifeboat station on 18^th May. Come along and chat with the crew, get up on ‘My Lady Anne’ to take a close up look at her, and meet all the rescue agencies the RNLI work with to keep you safe….oh and of course as usual thanks to our amazing volunteers, there will tea and cake! See you there…

Notes to editors – Images are ©RNLIPortishead unless stated

· The new state of the art lifeboat station

· The old Portishead Lifeboat Station at Sugar Loaf Beach

· The volunteers had to move the lifeboat out on to the launch ramp before they could change and go to sea

· RNLI flag being hoisted for the first time to mark the lifeboat station operational, with Mike Roberts, volunteer RNLI Portishead President, Nigel Jones who was the Area Lifesaving Manager for the region, and Bob Crane volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at the time.

· The old Masonic Building which was demolished

· RNLI Opening Ceremony in June 2015

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Helen Lazenby, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07800 595995 [email protected] or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 143,080 lives.

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.