200 Years of the RNLI
Image from terimakasih0 at Pixabay
The RNLI is 200 years old this year. And Fishguard RNLI Lifeboat Station is the oldest lifeboat station in Wales.
Built by local people in 1822, the town’s first lifeboat was handed over to the RNLI in 1855. In conjunction with other West Wales RNLI, the service has saved nearly 4,000 lives in the past 200 years. It now operates with a D-class inshore lifeboat, Edward Arthur Richardson, and Trent class Blue Peter VII.
Reliant upon volunteer crews and fundraisers, the service is one of five in Pembrokeshire that between them have rescued around 2,500 people. In addition, lifeguards who became part of the service in 2021 have saved around 115 lives, responding to nearly 9,000 calls for help.
Fishguard RNLI has received 28 medals in its lifetime, one of which was gold; 18 are silver and nine are bronze. They also boast Gemma Gill, the first female coxswain in Wales.
Gemma was even involved as a child in raising the funds for the Blue Peter appeal that paid for the current lifeboat she is working on. Her hope is that her experiences will inspire more people to volunteer and fundraise. In the past year alone, Fishguard has raised nearly £19,000 without which the service would have great difficulty continuing.
Celebrating 200 years in 2024 will include a party on the Parrog and an Open Day and breakwater event in the summer. This is not only a chance to raise more funds but also to say a massive thank you to all supporters and lifesavers.
