Porthcawl's station history

Silver Medal awarded to James Pearse, Thomas Pearse, John Jones and George Clark in acknowledgement of their gallant services in putting off in a boat and rescuing three out of four men of the crew of the schooner Trevaunance, that was wrecked in an easterly gale and sank immediately on 29 March 1857.

Silver Medal awarded to James Collopy and Daniel Shea, for putting off in a shore boat and rescuing the crew of six men of the schooner Ajax that was wrecked on Kenfig Sands in severe weather on 13 October 1858.

Silver Medals awarded to Christopher R M Talbot MP and John Williams in acknowledgement of their intrepid services in wading into the surf and rescuing some of the crew of the barque Sunda that was wrecked on Kenfig Sands on 2 November 1859.

All-weather lifeboat withdrawn and station closed, due to the dock closing.

Bronze Medal awarded to William H B Cotton in recognition of his courageous conduct in plunging into the sea to render help to the crew of the ss Kendy on 27 August 1928.

Inshore lifeboat station opened in May. D class lifeboat on service.

Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution awarded to L S Knipe, J Lock and R A Comley for their part in the service on 3 October to the sand dredger Steepholm that had grounded on the Tuskar Rock. The Coxswain of The Mumbles lifeboat Lionel Derek Scott, won a Bronze Medal for this service.

On 6 October, while the inshore lifeboat was on exercise, she took off five men who were working on the wreck of the Steepholm and returned them to their boats. There was a heavy surf running at the time and in recognition of the seamanship displayed by the crew, P Roberts, A Edwards and G Thomas on this occasion, letters of thanks signed by the Secretary were sent to them.

Silver Medal awarded to Helmsman Stuart Roberts in recognition of his bravery and unsurpassed seamanship when he took the lifeboat into heavy breaking surf and on the fourth attempt rescued a surfer and his board caught in a rip tide approximately 300 metres offshore in winds gusting to Force 9 and heavy confused seas on 30 December 1994. The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to crew members Carl Evans and Wayne Evans in recognition of their bravery and support. The Station Honorary Secretary, Mr John Williams received a Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman in recognition of his actions when faced with the dilemma of launching the lifeboat outside the official operating conditions for a D class lifeboat. The Maude Smith Award for the bravest act of life-saving in 1994 was awarded to Helmsman Stuart Roberts for this service.

In December work carried out on the construction of a 5m extension to the slipway.

New boathouse constructed on a new site adjacent to the present boathouse. It provides housing for an Atlantic 75 lifeboat and tractor and improved crew facilities

Atlantic 21 class lifeboat placed on temporary station duty on 16 February and the D class lifeboat withdrawn.

The Atlantic 21 class lifeboat was withdrawn and replaced by the Atlantic 75 class lifeboat B726 Giles that was placed on service on 11 July.

Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman were awarded to Helmsman Philip Missen for his overall command skills and for swimming ashore to assist two people cut off by the tide, and to crew member Steve Jones for his courage and determination in attempting to swim ashore to assist the casualties and for the part he played in the rest of the service on 17 August.

Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman was awarded to Helmsman Philip Missen and crew member Ross Martin when the lifeboat which was on restricted service due to an overheating port engine launched to a man clinging to the upturned hull of his capsized boat with his leg trapped underneath it in a westerly Force 5 to 6 Breeze and a two metre swell on 26 April.

The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Timothy Morgan for the rescue of a windsurfer in appalling conditions on 26 January 2002. Crew members Riccardo Rava and Carl Evans each received a Framed Letter of Thanks for their contribution to the success of the service, which was carried out in winds gusting to a Force 9 Gale and very rough seas in excess of two metres. The rescue was made all the more difficult by the ILB’s radio failing just after launching.   

Bronze Medal awarded to Helmsman Nick Beale for the rescue of a fisherman washed off the pier in a violent storm on 2 February 2002. Crew members Riccardo Rava and Stephen Knipe were each accorded The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for their significant contribution to this service which was carried out in conditions beyond the normal operating limits of the Atlantic class lifeboat. The seas were in excess of four metres and the severe Force 9 Gale was gusting to a Force 10 Storm. Helmsman Stephen Jones received a Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution for conducting a second search for a possible second fisherman, and the Station Honorary Secretary and other crew members each received a Letter of Appreciation for their contribution to the service and the first aid given to the rescued man. This outstanding service was also recognised by the award of the 2002 Lady Swaythling Trophy for Seamanship to Nick Beale by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society. The RNLI’s Walter & Elizabeth Groombridge award for 2002 was also awarded for this service.

Bronze Medal awarded to Helmsman Aileen Jones for her courage, seamanship and leadership when two people and the fishing vessel Gower Pride were saved on 24th August 2004. Crew member Simon Emms as accorded the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum for his courage and determination in boarding the Gower Pride, establishing a tow and reassuring and treating the crew. The service was carried out in confused seas amid tidal streams near the Nash Sandbank. The winds were a constant force 7 to 8 throughout the service. Once the Porthcawl Atlantic had got the Gower Pride clear of the dangerous shallows, the tow was passed to The Mumbles all weather lifeboat. The RNLI’s Walter and Elizabeth Groombridge award for 2004 was also awarded for this service. The Shipwrecked Mariners Society presented their Emile Robin Award for the most outstanding rescue by a British Ship in 2004 to Aileen Jones for this service. She is the first woman to ever receive this award.

A new Atlantic 85 lifeboat B-832 Rose of the Shire was placed on service on 20 May. This lifeboat was funded by the Northamptonshire appeal 2009. Lifeboat B-726 Giles has been withdrawn.

A new lifeboat D-714 Jean Ryall was placed on service at Porthcawl Lifeboat Station on 18 May 2012. This lifeboat was funded by the generous bequest of Mr Sydney David Charles Ryall in memory of his wife.