Wells History
1830 The station was established by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association and a boathouse was built at the west side of the entrance to Wells Harbour.
1869 The RNLI took over the station and a new boathouse was built on the Quay.
1880 On 29 October the lifeboat Eliza Adams capsized when returning to shore after a service launch. Eleven out of her crew of 13 drowned, leaving 10 widows and 27 children.
1895 A new boathouse and slipway were built close to the entrance of the harbour.
1936 The station’s first motor lifeboat was sent to the station.
1942 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain T Neilsen for going aboard a crashed Lancaster bomber on 14 July to search for survivors.
1955 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain W Cox for rescuing five crew from the steamer Zor.
1963 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Second Coxswain F Taylor for rescuing two people from the cabin cruiser Seamu.
An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established and a D class lifeboat was placed on service alongside the all weather lifeboat.
1964 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain DJ Cox for a service to the yacht Kiskadee aground on a sandbank.
1966 A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to the Coxswain and crew for rescuing a man and a dog from the yacht Kalin.
1969 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1971 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Mechanic Albert Court for rescuing five people who were attempting to walk across the channel mouth in a fast flowing flood tide, including an 11-year-old boy who had fallen into the water; Albert Court had dived into the water from his own boat to rescue the boy.
1973 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was to Coxswain David Cox for a service to the fishing vessel Pilgrim in danger of breaking up in a storm and a very rough sea.
1978 The ILB boathouse was destroyed in the January gales and was rebuilt to form part of the all weather boathouse.
1979 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain David Cox when the lifeboat stood by the cargo vessel Savinesti in a hurricane, sub-zero temperatures and a very rough sea.
1982 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain David Cox for rescuing the four crew from the fishing vessel Sarah-K on 20 November 1981.
1983 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain David Cox BEM for standing by the fishing vessel Isabelle Kathleen and then escorting the tug Dockman to Brancaster in a storm and heavy seas.
1984 The boathouse was modified to provide improved crew facilities and access stairs to a boarding and viewing platform for the all weather lifeboat.
1990 Major alterations were made to the boathouse for the Mersey class lifeboat, ON-1161 Doris M Mann of Ampthill.
1992 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Graham Walker and Crew Member James Case for rescuing the two crew from the fishing vessel Cerealia.
1993 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Graham Walker and Second Coxswain Allen Frary for saving the five crew and the yacht Starlight Speshull on 25 July. The lifeboat was on service for nearly 14 hours.
1996 The D class lifeboat, D-512 Jane Ann II was placed on service on 13 November.
A collective Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to the all weather lifeboat crew and shore helpers for the service to the fishing vessel Remus.
2001 Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Coxswain Allen Frary and Second Coxswain Robert Smith for rescuing one adult and two children from the yacht Candy on 2 September 2000.
2003 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Allen Frary for towing in the sailing vessel Albatros with 11 crew on board on 26 April 2002.
2005 On 29 October, 125 years after 11 crew members lost their lives when the lifeboat Eliza Adams capsized, eleven roses were laid from the current Wells lifeboat Doris M Mann of Ampthill near the spot where the tragedy occurred. Among those attending the commemoration were families and descendents of those involved.
Station honours
At Wells lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 8
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 7
Bronze Medal 2
Silver Medal 1
