Ilfracombe History
1828 A local pilot boat was fitted out as a lifeboat.
1850 The first boathouse, with a slipway, was built at the back of the harbour.
1866 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and the lifeboat was launched down a slipway at Warphouse Point.
1871 The slipway was filled in and the lifeboat had to be taken through the town to the top of the harbour to use the slipway there to get to the sea.
1875 A Silver Medal was awarded to Captain C Gray Jones RN, Second Assistant Inspector of Lifeboats for helping to save the Master of the wrecked smack Charlotte and the rescue of seven crew from the brigantine Annie Arby in December 1874.
1893 A new larger boathouse was built.
1930 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1936 The station’s first motor lifeboat arrived at the station.
1950 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Cecil G Irwin for rescuing 23 crew from the steamer Monte Gurugu that sank south of Lundy Island on 13 November 1949.
1971 Coxswain EE Williams was awarded the British Empire Medal.
1975 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Martin Rudd, a 14-year-old Scout from Ilfracombe for rescuing four people and a dog from a sinking speedboat. He was also presented with an inscribed wristwatch.
1978 A celebration 150th Anniversary Vellum was awarded to the station.
1981 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Coxswain David Clemence for a search for two people who had jumped overboard from the yacht Springtide.
1984 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain David Clemence for rescuing one crew member and saving the yacht Liberty, which was dragging her anchor close to Rapparee Rocks.
A new tractor house was built.
1990 The boathouse was adapted for the station’s new Mersey class lifeboat. The Spirit of Derbyshire arrived in July.
1991 An inshore lifeboat station was established with a D class lifeboat for one season’s operational evaluation. In November it became permanent.
1994 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Andrew Putt when, in winds gusting to force 10 and very steep seas, the lifeboat assisted in the rescue of two people from the fishing vessel Torridge Warrior. Appledore’s lifeboat was also involved in the rescue.
1996 A new boathouse, with improved crew facilities, was built for both lifeboats and launching tractor.
2000 The new station D class lifeboat, D-555 Deborah Brown, was placed on service in August. The new lifeboat has been funded by a special appeal organised by Mr Paul Brown of London in memory of his wife Deborah.
A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Andrew Bengey for rescuing two crew and a dog from a yacht that was out of control. Third Mechanic Leigh Hanks and Crew Member Martin Embrey received Letters of Appreciation from the Director and the remaining crew received Letters of Appreciation from the Chief of Operations.
Station honours
At Ilfracombe lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 2
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Bronze Medal 2
Silver Medal 2
