Minehead History

1901 An RNLI lifeboat station was established at the request of local residents and a boathouse was built to the west of the harbour. The lifeboat was launched across the steep shingle beach on skids.

1903 The lifeboat was launched by carriage.

1910 Crew Member W Slade died from exposure after a service.

1939 The lifeboat Kate Greatorex had a new method of propulsion. She was a light surf-type lifeboat with two 12 hp engines driven by Gill Propulsion, a method used in ferry boats in Norway and Sweden.

1941 On 19 December the Navy asked for the lifeboat to be launched but it was arranged that a shore boat should go. Coxswain G Slade and Shore Signalman T Escott went out in the coxswain's boat. The object they had gone out to investigate exploded and completely destroyed the boat, killing both men.

1950 A tractor garage was built to the rear of the boathouse.

1970 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was established and a D class lifeboat was sent to the station in April. It was kept in the tractor garage.

1972 A Framed Letter of Thanks was awarded to Helmsman David James for a service by the ILB. David James scaled a cliff face to rescue a man in difficulty on Culver Cliff.

1973 The all weather lifeboat was withdrawn from service on 20 May.

1974 A C class lifeboat was sent to the station to complement the D class.

1975 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Christopher Rundle for the rescue of three crew from the yacht Svea.

1979 The C class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by a B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat, Catherine Plumbley.

1992 A new D class lifeboat was placed on service.

1993 The original 1901 boathouse was adapted for the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat. This included an extension to provide improved crew facilities and a souvenir sales outlet.

1994 The Atlantic 21 lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by the new Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-708 Bessie, which was placed on service on 13 November.

1999 A new D class lifeboat, D-549 George & Christine, was placed on service 15 July.

2001 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station in celebration of 100 years of service.

Station honours

At Minehead lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Framed Letter of Thanks 1
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1