Porthcawl History
Before an RNLI lifeboat station was established at Porthcawl, eight Silver Medals for Gallantry were awarded for rescues off the coast.
1860 A lifeboat station was established and a boathouse built on the main promenade.
1902 The all weather lifeboat was withdrawn and the station closed, due to the dock closing.
1929 A Bronze Medal was awarded to William H B Cotton for going into the sea to help the crew of the steamship Kendy.
1965 An inshore lifeboat (ILB) station was opened in May and a D class lifeboat was placed on service.
1968 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to L S Knipe, J Lock and R A Comley for a service to the sand dredger Steepholm. The Coxswain of The Mumbles lifeboat, Lionel Derek Scott, was awarded a Bronze Medal for this service.
1995 A Silver Medal was awarded to Helmsman Stuart Roberts when he rescued a surfer and his board caught in a rip tide in winds gusting to force 9 on 30 December 1994. Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellums were awarded to Crew Members Carl Evans and Wayne Evans. The Station Honorary Secretary, Mr John Williams received a Framed Letter of Thanks for his actions.
1996 A new boathouse was built for the tractor and the new B class lifeboat, Atlantic 75, B-726 Giles.
1997 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Helmsman Philip Missen and Crew Member Steve Jones for a service to two people cut off by the tide.
1998 Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Helmsman Philip Missen and Crew Member Ross Martin for rescuing a man clinging to his capsized boat.
2002 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Helmsman Timothy Morgan for the rescue of a windsurfer. Crew Members Riccardo Rava and Carl Evans each received a Framed Letter of Thanks.
On 2 February the ILB carried out an outstanding service to two fishermen washed off the pier in conditions beyond the normal operating limits of the B class lifeboat. The seas were in excess of four metres and the severe force 9 gale was gusting to a force 10 storm. The following awards were made:
Bronze Medal to Helmsman Nick Beale; Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellums to Crew members Riccardo Rava and Stephen Knipe and Framed Letter of Thanks to Helmsman Stephen Jones.
2004 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Helmsman Aileen Jones when two people and the fishing vessel Gower Pride were saved near the Nash sandbank on 24 August. Aileen is the first lifeboat woman in 116 years to be given such an accolade. Crew Member Simon Emms was awarded the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.
Station honours
At Porthcawl lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 11
hanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 6
Bronze Medal 3
Silver Medal 9
