Cardigan's station history

RNLI took over the lifeboat station including its 24ft lifeboat. This was subsequently replaced with a 27ft boat costing £116, the 24ft boat was considered too small.

A new SR lifeboat John Stuart, built at a cost of £198, was placed on service and the previous boat withdrawn 

The RNLI paid a £10 gratuity to the widow of crew member D Richards who caught a cold as a result of going on service on 6 January 1867.

Silver Medal awarded to Richard Jinks, Chief Officer of HM Coastguards, for saving the crew of two of the smack Ocean of Milford, which had been driven onto Cardigan Bar during a south-easterly wind and in heavy sea, on 13 September.

Breakwater constructed to protect the lifeboat house at a cost of £350.

A new SR lifeboat Lizzie & Charles Leigh Clare (ON177), built at a cost of £363, was placed on service and the John Stuart withdrawn.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain William Niles, for long service.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain David Rees, on his retirement.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Thomas Bowen, for a service to the ss Conservator which got into difficulties in Cardigan Bay in a north-westerly full gale, snow, and very heavy seas on 27 March.  Despite seas washing over both vessels her 10 man crew was taken off and as the lifeboat was unable to return to station because of the weather conditions, she crossed the bar, ran up the river to Cardigan and landed the survivors there.

Station closed.

Station re-opened at Poppit Sands as an ILB station with the placing on service of a D class lifeboat.

Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution sent to crew members V Evans, R Evans and the Deputy Launching Authority, Mr J W Marr in recognition of the part they played in the rescue of four people after their boat capsized on the bar on 13 August.  Mr Brian Francis, a fisherman, was accorded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for his part in the rescue.  He was also awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Vernon Evans, in recognition of his skill and determination when the yacht Snow Rych was saved and her crew of four rescued after the yacht had broached on Cardigan Bay on 17 April.

Bronze Medal awarded to Helmsman Robert Reynolds, in recognition of the courage and seamanship displayed by him and The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to crew members Vernon Evans and Charles Sharp when on 15 August in seas estimated to be 16 feet or more, they went to the assistance of an 18 foot motor cruiser with four people and a dog on board.  Reaching the casualty Helmsman Reynolds drove the lifeboat onto the vessel amidships enabling the two lifeboat crewmembers to grab a boy who was firmly grasping a dog and haul him aboard.  An attempt to rescue a woman was frustrated as she was holding firmly onto her husband.  Another approach was made and the owner of the cruiser was grabbed.  At this point the coxswain decided to land these survivors on the beach after which he returned to the casualty, drove the bow of the lifeboat onto the cruiser and the remaining couple were pulled aboard.

A D class lifeboat withdrawn and a C class lifeboat placed on service on 29 March.

On 20 June the new lifeboat house, built to accommodate the new C class lifeboat was officially opened, the new lifeboat was dedicated and a Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to crew members Jeremy Thomas and Leonard Walters when three people were rescued near Penbryn Beach after being cut off by the tide.  The C class lifeboat was operating in conditions at the limits of this class of lifeboat.  Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum also accorded to a young Aberporth Lifeguard, Simon Jury, who assisted the lifeboat in this service, using his surfboard on 28 August 1996.

A New double boathouse for Atlantic 75 class lifeboat and D class lifeboat completed in March.

A D class lifeboat and B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat were placed on service and the C class was withdrawn.

The Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B-752 Tanni Grey and the D class lifeboat D-547 Society of Societies, were placed on service 

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Dyfrig Brown in recognition of his skill and seamanship when the B class inshore lifeboat saved the lives of three men cut off by the rising tide at Fathganeg Rock on 30 August 2004.  The service was carried out in large turbulent seas close to a dangerous rock pinnacle.  A fourth man was saved by a helicopter.

The new station D class lifeboat D-709 Elsie Ida Meade was placed on service on 28 January.  Lifeboat D-547 Society of Societies has been withdrawn to the relief fleet.

Framed letter of thanks signed by the Chairman of the RNLI, Admiral the Lord Boyce awarded to Helmsman Len Walters for the rescue of a couple from a capsized catamaran from rocks at Tresaith in adverse conditions on the afternoon of 30 April 2011.

Framed Letters of thanks from RNLI Chairman given to Helm Leonard Walters and Helm Derek Pusey for rescue of a couple stranded at the base of cliffs at Tresaith on the evening of 19th September 2013 Derek Pusey also awarded the Lady Swaythling Trophy from the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society for outstanding seamanship. Crew member Clive Williams presented with the thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. Other Crew members received letters of thanks from the RNLI Chief Executive.

B-871 Albatross placed on service.

Leonard Walters (Helm), Derek Pusey (Helm) and Clive Williams (Crew) awarded the annual St David's award for bravery, for the service call on 19th September 2013.

D-845 John Darbyshire placed on service.

Crew members presented with Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medals.

Helm Mark Williams and Crew Members Louise Francis and Simon Mansfield received letter of thanks from the Chair of the RNLI for the service to rescue two stranded kayakers near the Witches Cauldron on 19th August 2022. This service was also broadcast as part of Series 8 of BBC's Saving Lives at Sea.

Cardigan Lifeboat Station awarded the Excellence in Volunteering Award by the RNLI Chief Executive.

Letter of thanks received from RNLI Head of Region in thanks to Cardigan Lifeboat Station who supported the Ceredigion Beach Lifeguards in rescuing a father and son whose kayak had sunk half a mile offshore between Aberporth and Tresaith. The Beach Lifeguards reached the casualties, but were unable to make their own way back to the beach and were all rescued by Cardigan Lifeboat. For their part in the rescue, the Beach Lifeguards were awarded the Alison Saunders Trophy.