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15th July 2004 - Peterborough Beer Festival 2, IB1 lifeboat delivered to Mumbles

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The story of the Mumbles Lifeboat Station has been summed up as follows:

"After an uncertain start the Mumbles lifeboat station has had a long and distinguished history. The offshore lifeboats have been launched on service more than 400 times, completing 200 successful services during which they have saved in excess of 450 lives. The inshore lifeboats, which have seen service each spring and summer since 1965, have also made a valuable contribution to safety by saving close on two hundred lives. This proud record has been won at a high price since 18 lifeboatmen have lost their lives on service." From the September 1989 Preface to "Mumbles Lifeboats" by Carl Smith.

Mumbles Inshore Lifeboats

The Mumbles station has operated a "D Class" inshore lifeboat in addition to its "All Weather Lifeboat" since 1965. Between !965 and 2002 the station has been served in turn by three "D Class" boats, as follows:

D44 Gift of Swansea Rotary Club, D199 Southgate Round Table (London), D319 Mrs Marjorie . Hearmon.

In December 2001 the Mumbles station was informed by RNLI Headquarters that they were again to receive in 2003 a new "IB1" class inshore lifeboat to replace D 319.

Their new boat will be named "Peterborough Beer Festival II"

Lifeboats at the Mumbles

The Swansea branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution was founded in March 1863 to support the work of the new station. The first RNLI lifeboat arrived in October of that year and operated from Swansea's South Dock until the move to the newly constructed boathouse at Mumbles Head 1864. The station's first service was rendered on 3rd December 1863. The establishment of the new Mumbles lifeboat station was the culmination of efforts made from 1832 to establish an effective service in Swansea Bay. Since that time the station and its crews have established a long and noble history of service and gallantry, saving many lives at a heavy price to the people of the lifeboat crews and their families and communities.

Gallantry Medals Awarded to "Men of the Mumbles"

Prior to the foundation of the Mumbles lifeboat station, between 1833 and 1840, ten Silver medals were awarded to individuals who lived at Aberavon and Neath in respect of shoreboat services performed locally. These awards are now attributed by the RNLI to the Mumbles station. From that time "Men of the Mumbles" have continued to receive the Institution's recognition of their deeds and the following gallantry medals have been awarded to Mumbles lifeboat crewmen:

Mumbles Roll Of Honour

Lifeboatmen of the Mumbles have given their lives on service on the following occasions:

The 1883 disaster was survived by 9 members of the crew and that of 1903 was survived by 8 crewmen. There were no survivors of the Edward, Prince of Wales disaster of 1947.