RNLI

The History of the Cornish Lifeboats goes back to the early 1800’s. In fact over the years there have been lifeboat stations established at 28 different locations around the Coastline of Cornwall & Isles of Scilly.

Today there are 14 lifeboat stations, and 21 lifeboats, from the latest Tamar Class All Weather Lifeboat down to the smallest D-Class Inshore Lifeboat. Amongst the Cornish Lifeboat Fleet, there is a representative of every current class of Lifeboat.

Cornwall also has a wide range of methods by which its All Weather Lifeboats are launched. These include slipway launched lifeboats at The Lizard, Sennen and Padstow, a carriage launched lifeboat at St Ives, while at Fowey, Falmouth, Penlee, and St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly the lifeboats lie afloat.

Sadly Cornwall has also had its own fair share of Lifeboat Disasters, at Padstow, St Ives and more recently at Penlee in 1981, when the crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost while attempting to rescue the crew of the Coaster Union Star in mountainous seas.
The lifeboat crews who man our Cornish lifeboats today come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common, they are prepared to drop everything to answer the call. This is a tradition that has been maintained in many Cornish Nautical Communities for centuries, and some of today’s lifeboat crew’s are descendants of the original men who manned the boats during the 1800’s.

Since 1825 in Cornwall 210 RNLI gallantry medals have been awarded, including 7 gold, 132 silver and 71 bronze medals.

In addition the RNLI Beach Lifeguard service operates on 55 beaches in Cornwall.
But we must not forget the people left ashore. In Cornwall there are 51 Branches and Guilds, which help to raise the money, which keeps our lifeboats and their crews afloat. With out these dedicated volunteers and the generosity of the general public the Lifeboat Service would not even exist in its current form.

More information on the RNLI can be obtained by contacting Dave Nicoll, RNLI Area Fundraising Manager on 01326 210008 or at dnicoll@rnli.org.uk

RNLI Web Site  www.rnli.org.uk

Falmouth Lifeboat Web Site www.falmouthlifeboat.co.uk