St Agnes Lifeboat Station
St Agnes Lifeboat Station was opened in 1968 and is based in St Agnes, Cornwall, South West England. It is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Until 2015 the station's lifeboats were sponsored by BBC TV's Blue Peter programme and named Blue Peter IV.
History
The station was opened in 1968 as a base for a D-class Inshore Lifeboat (ILB). It was one of four lifeboats paid for from Blue Peter's viewers donating paperback books. A small boathouse was provided on the road to Trevaunace Cove. A house a short distance higher up the road was converted for crew facilities and fund raising in 2004.
The Duke of Kent visited the station in 1978 and again in 2005 in his role as president of the RNLI.
St Agnes lifeboats
| At St Agnes | Op. No. | Name | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–1972 | D-148 | Blue Peter IV | RFD PB16 | |
| 1973–1981 | D-215 | Blue Peter IV | RFD PB16 | |
| 1981–1984 | D-179 | Blue Peter IV | RFD PB16 | First stationed at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston. Unnamed until allocated to St Agnes. |
| 1985–1993 | D-305 | Blue Peter IV | RFD PB16 | |
| 1994–2004 | D-453 | Blue Peter IV | EA16 | |
| 2005–2015 | D-641 | Blue Peter IV | IB1 | |
| 2015– | D-787 | XKalibur | IB1 | Funded by The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club and named after King Arthur's sword, Excalibur. |
Awards
The following are awards made at St Agnes Lifeboat Station:
- Peter David Bliss Helmsman - 1978
- Gavin Forehead, Helmsman - 2005
- The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
- Peter Roberts, crew member - 1996
- Andrew Northcote, Helmsman - 2002
- Rory Bushe, crew member - 2005
- James Watkins, crew member - 2005
- Tom Roberson, surfer - 2005
- Jamie Kent, surfer - 2005
- A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
- Rory Bushe, crew members - 2002
- Carey Morgan, crew members - 2002
- Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation
- Peter David Bliss, Helmsman - 1983
- The Daily Express LifeSavers Award from Vodafone 2005
- Gavin Forehead, Helmsman - 2005
- Rory Bushe, crew member - 2005
- James Watkins, crew member - 2005
- James Michael Bower Endowment Fund Award
- Gavin Forehead, Helmsman - 2005
- Martyn Leander Storme Ward - 2022
See also
- List of RNLI stations
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
References
- ^ Leach, Nicholas (2006). Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage (2nd ed.). Twelveheads Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 090629443-6.
- ^ Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Sutton Publishing. pp. 154–156. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
- ^ "Duke of Kent to make return visit to St Agnes Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 74–77.
- ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 80.
- ^ "Lifeboat will 'make coast safer'". 21 May 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 83.
- ^ "Jaguar enthusiasts donate £18,200 towards St Agnes' replacement lifeboat XKalibur". Falmouth Packet. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ Leonard & Denton 2024, p. 85.
- ^ Smith, Chloe (3 May 2016). "St Agnes RNLI officially welcomes new D class lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ RNLI: St Agnes Lifeboat Station History
- ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. Retrieved 7 February 2024.