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New Quay Lifeboat Station

 New Quay Lifeboat Station - photo © Rod Attrill Click here for 2012 Lifeboat Services   
Click here for 2011 Lifeboat Services  

Click here for 2010 Lifeboat Services    
Click here for 2009 Lifeboat Services
Click here for 2008 Lifeboat Services      
Click here for 2007 Lifeboat Services
CREW NOTICE

The next exercise will take place on
t.b.a.

 

Most summer visitors to New Quay, enjoying the sun and the wonderful views across Cardigan Bay's tranquil blue waters, will not realise how treacherous the seas can become when lashed by storms. The picturesque coast has jagged cliffs and hidden rocks that can become very dangerous to sailors when faced with fast changing weather conditions together with an onshore wind.
The lifeboats at New Quay serve the coastal area between Cardigan and Aberystwyth lifeboat stations. These two stations are equipped with fast inshore lifeboats: – The lifeboats at New Quay serve the coastal area between Cardigan and Aberystwyth lifeboat stations. These two stations are equipped with fast inshore lifeboats: – Cardigan in the south has a B class Atlantic lifeboat, ‘Tanni Grey’ and a D class lifeboat, ‘Elsie Ida Meade’ - Aberystwyth in the north also have a B class Atlantic lifeboat, ‘Spirit of Friendship’. Operating offshore for long periods, in difficult weather conditions and at night requires a very different type of lifeboat. The Mersey class All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) based at New Quay performs this role. Covering a very large area of sea and coast, the station is flanked by two ALB stations – Fishguard in the south with their Trent class lifeboat, ‘Blue Peter V11’ and Barmouth in the north with a Mersey class lifeboat, ‘Moira Barrie’.

New Quay is part of the RNLI West Division comprising 31 lifeboat stations around the coast of Wales from Penarth in the south to Rhyl in the north. Five stations around the Isle of Man are also included within the Division. The two lifeboats at New Quay, the Mersey class ALB ‘Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge’, named after the main donors who along with several other people left legacies to enable the lifeboat to be purchased by the RNLI in 1992. 

The Late Hon Mrs. Audrey Lawson Johnston presented the D class inshore lifeboat (ILB) ‘Amy Lea’ to the station in 2004. Along with her parents and other members of her family who were passengers aboard the Lusitania, she survived when it was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on 7th May 1915.
 

The 'Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge'. Naming the lifeboat ‘Amy Lea’ in memory of her mother Amy Lea Pearl. Mrs. Lawson Johnston was only 3 months old at the time of the disaster. Significantly, she presented the lifeboat at a naming and dedication ceremony in New Quay on 7th May 2004, the 89th anniversary of the sinking and in her 89th year.

left: The Mersey class life boat 'Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge'. 
 

The first lifeboat station in New Quay was built in 1864 . The first lifeboat, rowed by 12 oars, was Forester. At this time, New Quay was becoming important as both a fishing port and a centre for boat building. By 1848 shipbuilding had become a major industry in New Quay and in this year it is recorded that there were 10 vessels on the stocks at one time that required the skills of some three hundred workmen. 

 The William Cantrell Ashley was the New Quay lifeboat from 1907 to 1948, and was the last sailing lifeboat in the RNLI.


Forester 
1864 - 1872


William Cantrell Ashley 
1907 - 1948


Birds Eye 
1970 - 1990

William Cantrell Ashley was the New Quay lifeboat from 1907 to 1948, and was the last sailing lifeboat in the RNLI. After retirement from the lifeboat service, it went to the Outward Bound Sea School at Aberdovey where it was renamed  'Outward Bound'.

The new boathouse was built in 1992 to accommodate the Mersey class life boat 'Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge'. 


New Quay Lifeboat Station News:

NEW QUAY'S RNLI SHOP OPENING SOON AND LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER STAFF

The RNLI shop at New Quay has enjoyed successful sales over the last few years and opens for the coming summer season on Sunday, 28th March. Situated next to the RNLI lifeboat station, it sells a range of good quality RNLI souvenirs, including clothing , toys and various gifts.
The shop will be open from 12 noon to 4pm daily and Shop Manager Carol Humphries is interested to hear from volunteers who can work on one or more afternoons per week during the period up to the end of October. Previous shop experience is not required as training is given.
Carol says, "Working in our shop is very worthwhile. It raises funds for the RNLI, which is a charity relying on fund raising and legacies, and is an opportunity to play a role in our local community, meeting interesting people in a relaxed holiday atmosphere".
Carol can be contacted on 01545 581126.

Reported flare sighting leads to first shout of the year for New Quay RNLI lifeboat.

New Quay’s all weather lifeboat was requested to launch for the first time this year at 5pm on Wed 27th February following a report of a flare sighting 10miles north of Aberaeron by a member of the public.

The lifeboat, crewed by Daniel Potter (coxswain), Ben Billingham (mechanic), Steve Hartley, Tim Harrison, Hefin Davies, Joe Quayle and Ellis Jones, was launched within minutes and in relatively calm sea conditions was soon en-route to the reported scene. On arrival in the reported area, the Aberystwyth lifeboat assisted in a shoreline search while the New Quay lifeboat and two local fishing vessels conducted a detailed search further from the coast.

After approximately two hours searching by sight and radar the search was called off and both lifeboats returned to station to be recovered and refuelled. As no explanation was found for a flare to be fired or sighted it is believed that this was a false alarm but one raised with good intent.

Roger Couch, New Quay Lifeboat Operations Manager commended the volunteer crew for responding very promptly on their fist launch of the year.

QUAY WEST TABLE TOP SALES TEAM DONATES GENEROUS SUM TO NEW QUAY RNLI

For the last few years a group of ladies with holiday homes at Quay West have joined together to raise funds for the Lifeboat Station by holding table top sales and other initiatives throughout the season.

This year was no exception and they got busy selling books and bric a brac, holding "Name that Teddy" and other competitions and making collections. They were greatly indebted to all the holiday home owners on the site who contributed items for sale and also gave generously to the funds. By the end of October they had raised £2,000.00, which they were pleased to hand over to the RNLI.

Cheryl Latham, a member of the group, said, "We think of the RNLI as a worthy charity as its aim is to save lives at sea, often at great peril to the crews. The local lifeboat station plays a big part in the life of New Quay and we are very pleased to support it and contribute to the equipment that it needs".

Quay West management, on behalf of Bourne Leisure Group,are also very supportive of the RNLI, having recently donated the proceeds of collection boxes and a Race Meeting to the station.

NEW QUAY RNLI REMEMBERS A PAST HONORARY SECRETARY

Volunteers at New Quay RNLI paid their respects to Dennis Leworthy of Maenygroes at his funeral on Monday, 29th October.

Dennis, born and brought up in New Quay, spent a lifetime associated with the sea. He was a long serving volunteer at the lifeboat station, having served as a crew member between 1943 and 1952 and later a shore helper between 1952 and 1980. Following his retirement as a Coastguard Officer, he took the post of Harbourmaster in the town and became a Deputy Lifeboat Authority at the lifeboat station.

In 1984, Dennis was appointed Hon. Secretary (a post which is now known as Lifeboat Operations Manager) and, as such, managed the service in New Quay. He retired from this responsible position in 1996.It was a fitting tribute that at his funeral the four bearers were long serving crew members Daniel Potter, Rees Tom Jones, Bernard Davies and Steve Hartley.

Roger Couch the present Lifeboat Operations Manager in New Quay said, "Dennis was the eighth Hon. Sec to serve at the lifeboat station since it was founded in 1864 and regrettably, another personality and another piece of history has been lost. During his tenure, the all weather lifeboat, "Birds Eye" was in service as were 3 inshore lifeboats and in 1992 Dennis was responsible for the introduction of the present Mersey Class all weather lifeboat, "Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge". When he finally retired from his RNLI role, Dennis was succeeded by Roger Davies".

18 September 2012 - First call out for new RNLI lifeboat at New Quay

Less than a week after entering service at the Ceredigion station, New Quay's new inshore RNLI lifeboat has been called into action. The inshore lifeboat which is called Audrey LJ was called to assist a cruiser experiencing problems just north of Aberaeron Harbour.

First on scene was the all-weather RNLI lifeboat which was launched at 7.30pm last night (17 September). The new inshore RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch shortly afterwards.

RNLI mechanic Ben Billingham was transferred from the all-weather lifeboat on to the stricken vessel to help set up a tow as conditions were particularly challenging due to a heavy swell.

He says: 'We were sad to see our former inshore lifeboat Amy Lea leave the station but were delighted to welcome D-754 Audrey LJ, which was placed on service last Wednesday. Less than a week later, she has been out on her first rescue offering valuable assistance to the all-weather lifeboat.

'Once the tow was established the casualty's anchor was cut away as it couldn't be recovered. RNLI crew member Bernie Davies from the inshore RNLI lifeboat was put on board.'

The boat was skilfully manoeuvred into Aberaeron Harbour which was made difficult due to the swell coming into the harbour and failing light. Shore lines were thrown aboard the casualty vessel which was pulled round to the visitor's berth where the Harbourmaster and the Coastguard were waiting.


 

New Quay Lifeboat Station, New Quay, Cardiganshire SA45 9PS
Telephone - 01545 560311

Click here to visit the main RNLI website

Click here to visit the New Quay section of the RNLI website 

Registered Charity Number: 209603

Please note: New Quay Lifeboat Station is not responsible for the content of external internet sites