Devon & Cornwall - Day 1
- Allan & Helen
- Apr 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 8
This weekend we resumed our visits after a short break over winter. We based ourselves in Bodmin, Cornwall to undertake 19 station visits during the week. This brought our visit number to the half way mark of 119.
Plymouth Lifeboat Station
We travelled down from home late on Friday evening staying at Exeter before making our way to our first visit, Plymouth Lifeboat Station, on Saturday morning. The crew were waiting for us within the private Marina and their LPO Darren had kindly arranged to meet us there. The crew were due out on training exercises that morning at 9:00 AM and they were all kitted up ready to go when we arrived. After our introductions we were given a life vest before heading down to the pontoon where their Seven Class ALB, 17-35 Cybil Mullen Glover, and the B Class ILB, B-908 Annabel E Jones were waiting. The seven class lifeboat has been on station since 2003 and was named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 23rd of July of that year. The Atlantic 85 was on station in 2018.
As the ILB crew prepared to launch from their versa dock we were given the opportunity to step on board the seven lifeboat which was the first that we have been on. We were amazed how much space was inside compared to the Shannon class lifeboats we had been onboard so far.
We were given a tour of the seven class before heading up to the Helms position which afforded a incredible view across the harbour. From here we watched the ILB launch. Soon after we left the boat and watched the seven class leave the pontoon and depart the harbour for its exercise around the coast. This was a joint exercise with the National Coastwatch Institute (NCI) and they were planning to leave Dead Fred in the sea to be spotted and rescued.
Heading back to the lifeboat station Darren explained about some unique stone steps underneath the pier which were the scene of the offloading of the Titanic survivors back in 1914. It was one of the few places where the survivors were offloaded and is marked by a plaque in memory of the Titanic survivors.
The station building is the old customs office and is octagonal, 3 storeys high, and built from granite. It was erected in 1850 by architect George Wightwick. A very unique building. Plymouth lifeboat station is one of the oldest on the South Coast of England having been established in 1803 by a local committee. The station has had several locations since then with the all weather lifeboats being moored in various locations around Mill Bay harbour. In 1988, with the redevelopment of Mill Bay docks, the station was relocated to Sutton Harbour and then moved in 1992 to the old custom house where it remains now.
We were given a tour of the station with its unique spiral staircase and were told stories of George the ghost. After some interesting discussions and meeting one of the newest members of the crew we said our goodbyes and headed to our next stop. A huge thank you to Darren, Lifeboat Operations Manager Nigel, Chairperson Richard, Coxwain Neil, Deputy Coxswain Will, second Mechanic Adam and Deputy Coxswain of the ILB Cameron for an amazing visit.
Looe Lifeboat Station
A short drive along the coast and making use of the Torpoint Ferry, we arrived at the beautiful fishing town of Looe. After negotiating the very narrow streets we were eventually ushered into a lifeboat crew parking space which was a godsend as parking was impossible in the town.
The station was open when we arrived and we were met by volunteer visits officer Adam who welcomed us into the station and showed us around. They have two boats, an Atlantic 85, B-894 Sheila & Dennis Tongue II and a D class D-872 Ollie Naismith II. The ILBs arrived on station in 2016 and 2022 respectively.
The boathouse was completed in 2003 and is finished in local stone, granite and slate with a slipway into the river. The tide was out when we arrived and the river hardly looked deep enough for a boat to be launched. At low tide the boats are taken further down the beach and launched into the sea. There have been lifeboats serving the town from 1866 with the modern station being established in 1992. The station was first opened after several lives were lost when boatman went to the assistance of a fishing vessel but their boat capsized returning to shore. In 1930 the last lifeboat, Ryder, was withdrawn. The station then reopened in June 1992.
After visiting the shop and buying a pin badge, we left Looe, negotiating the narrow streets and pedestrians, heading for Fowey.
Fowey Lifeboat Station
Taking the small Bodinnick ferry across the river we arrived at the Fowey Lifeboat Station which was a hive of activity. The station was open for people to have their life jackets checked ready for the boating season. They also included visits to their All Weather Lifeboat which was moored on a pontoon in the river.
We were met by press officer Kathy who kindly showed us around the three storey inshore lifeboat house which was built in 1998. The D class ILB, Olive Three (D-817) is transferred from the boathouse across the road to a davit where it is launched into the river. Kathy kindly took us down to the pontoon to take a photo of their Trent class lifeboat, Maurice and Joyce Hardy, 14-18.
The Fowey lifeboat station was established in 1922 to replace a station at nearby Polkerris from where a lifeboat had been operating since 1859. Problems obtaining crew and horses to launch the lifeboat from Polkkeris resulted in transferring the operation to Fowey.
After thanking Kathy for her time, we wandered into town and enjoyed our first Cornish cream tea of the week. We then headed to our base for the week near Bodmin in a beautiful wooden lodge ready for the next day of adventures.
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