Our History

1844 - Lifeboat capsized while being exercised in Bude harbour, two of her crew being drowned. The story of this tragic event, taken from reports of the time is as follows:-

Whatever little confidence the Bude Lifeboatmen may have had in their craft must have been completely destroyed by a calamity which occurred during a practice launch on October 10th 1844. When rowing her on the northern side of the harbour, a sudden heavy surge broke the steersman's oar, together with four others on the port side, bringing the boat broadside onto the sea, and a second big wave capsized her, throwing part of the crew into the water. (According to the author of 'Bencoolen to Capricorna' two men clung to the keel of the upturned boat, whilst nine others remained imprisoned underneath until she drifted in on the sands). But a contemporary account in the Royal Cornwall Gazette gives the number who were trapped below as five. The Gazette asserts that four of them kept their holds under the boat until she got into shallow water, where a number of men turned her over and released them. The fifth man had previously extricated himself from under the boat and climbing up on her bottom, cheered up those beneath through the air holes until they were released from their fearful situation. As soon as the mishap occurred a boat was manned from the sea lock and succeeded in saving two men who were floating about on oars. Two others, named William Skitch and Nickolas Bradden, were unfortunately drowned. Their bodies were never recovered.

Built by Wake, of Sunderland, her dimensions being 24' 9" in length, 8' in width and 3' deep. She was described as being of the 'North Country' type or surf boat, for rowing only, based upon the original Greathead lifeboat. There boats never found favour in other areas, the Bude Lifeboatmen proved no exception to this rule, being immediately viewed with mistrust by the local boatmen on its arrival.

1845 - Silver Medals were awarded to James Perkins, Coastguard, Thomas Paul, Coastguard and Simon Bolitho, Coastguard, for the rescue of three men and one boy by Dennett's Rockets from the wreck of the schooner 'Margaret'.

Row and sail
Some of the early boats had a sail,
but first the crew had to row out
in often terrible conditions.
The effort of rowing would make them sweat and
once the sail was up they could possibly freeze!!

1853 - Silver Medal to W H Tregidgo for rescuing two from Sloop 'Margaret' on 9th October.

1858 - Silver Medals were awarded to W H Tregidgo (Second Service Clasp) J. Stone, J P Sharrock, W R May and H Ellis of HM Coastguard for saving, by means of ropes, the crew of 16 and a pilot from the ship 'Defence' which was wrecked during stormy weather under the cliffs of Benney, St Juliot on 13th March.

Early Bude Crew - Lifeboat and Boathouse c1850
The original Lifeboat House can still be seen in the car park opposite The Falcon Hotel and Brendon Arms Public House.
Over the entrance is the inscription
"The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea"

1860 - A Silver Medal to J Dyer in acknowledgement of his gallant services in wading into the surf at the peril of his life and rescuing the Master of the Schooner 'Beverley' of Goole which during a heavy gale was wrecked under Upton Cliff near Bude on 26th October 1859.

1860 - Silver Medal (Third Clasp) was awarded to W H Tregidgo for putting off with two boat crews and rescuing two crews, consisting of 11 men from the Schooner 'Union' of Bannes and Lugger 'Anais' of St. Vast, which were wrecked during a gale off Newquay, Cornwall on 26th October 1859.

1863 - "Those of the Lifeboat Committee who witnessed this service of Bude Lifeboat
          observing the great exertions required on the part of the crew to make headway
          on this occasion against the wind and tide have expressed their opinion that
          this coastline is at times subject to a sea and wind which no human power
          would be able to guide the lifeboat through."

(Comments made by the Station Honorary Secretary Bude, in his return of service to the Institution
following the launch of Bude Lifeboat to a shipwreck on 1st September 1863)

9^th April 1866 - Taken from the minutes of the committee meeting - Resolved that the crew be paid 10/-
each for their attendance and services on the occasion of the stranding of the "Maggie" on the 26th March
and that the crew be paid 3/- on their assembling on the occasion of the wreck of the "Enterprise".

16th February 1867 - Taken from the minutes of the committee meeting - Moved by Mr Rowe, recorded by Capt. Davey and resolved:- That a contribution of £3 be given from the funds of this branch towards the subscription now being raised for the widows and families of the men drowned at Padstow by upsetting of the Life Boat.

8th October 1869 - Taken from the minutes of the committee meeting - Resolved that the thanks of this meeting be given to M Simpson for the prompt manner in which he conveyed the Rocket apparatus to the scene of the wreck "Avonmore", for the judgement with which he used the apparatus and for his bravery in going off to the wreck at his own personal risk - the result being his receiving 15 of the crew:

That the thanks of the meeting be also given to Mr. John King for his conduct on the occasion in going off to the wreck to render assistance to a disabled Seaman.

The Medal of the Royal Humane Society was presented by Sir Thomas Ackland to Mr. Oliver Davey for his gallantry in rescuing Mr. N. Loth from drowning, whilst bathing at Bude.

20^th February 1877 - The crew were paid the usual fee for assembling for the care of the "Fortitude"

3rd March 1877 - Whilst returning to harbour after launching to assistance of Schooner 'Elizabeth Scown' on 3rd March, the Lifeboat was hit by a very heavy sea which smashed several of her oars and carried away her rudder, another heavy sea hit her and she capsized. All the crew regained the Lifeboat except the coxswain, James Maynard, who was drowned.

The following was taken from the minutes of the Committee meeting, in March 1877, recounting the tragic loss of Mr. James Maynard, Coxswain of the Bude Lifeboat. (The main body of the text reads as follows, as much as can be ascertained from the committee meeting books)

Resolved that the committee consider it would be extremely desirable if the Institution would send down on of their Inspectors of Lifeboats to inquire into the circumstances of the capsizing of the Lifeboat and the drowning of the Coxswain.

That the committee desire to express their sympathy with the widow of James Maynard the late coxswain in her bereavement. That she being left with a family of ten children and daily expecting another child, is a proper object of pecuniary assistance and that the members present (then follows the names of the committee) form themselves into a committee to apply any subscriptions with which they may be entrusted for the benefit of the widow and children.

Following this on the meeting of the committee on April 2nd 1877. A payment of £572 11s 10d with a further promised amount of £7 10s, with a proposed sum of £50 be retained for the dependents of the widow to be used in buying an 'estate' at some future time or in some other way ------ to be ----.

1881 - Silver Medal awarded to T. Bate, Coxswain of the Bude Lifeboat in acknowledgement of his gallant services in assisting, at considerable risk of his life, to save four men on the occasion of the wreck of the Ketch 'Stucley' of Bude on Bude breakwater on 31st December 1880.

The Lock-Head c1900
The nearest vessel is the
President Garfield
wrecked off Summerleaze March 1906

Bude Lifeboat preparing to go out through
the Lock Gates. c1920.
The type of vessel that often came into Bude
Harbour can be seen in the background

On Exercise in Bude bay
	From Horses...........
..........To Horse Power. The first diesel tractor to pull Bude's Lifeboat - but did not prove very successful

12th March 1901 - At a meeting of the committee a list was drawn up of the crew.
The list reads Name - age - Profession

H. Stapleton	55	Shipwright - Cox.n	H. Bate	35	Sailor
R. Stapleton	25	Shipwright	G. Johnson	40	Sailor
H. Barrett	48	Sailor	G. Shepheard	40	Sailor
B. Barrett	21	Carpenter	G. Hallett	40	Sailor
W. Rowe	40	Sailor	J. Bewes	40	Labourer
T. Sewell	43	Sailor	G. Bate	35	Carpenter
W. Cook	40	Sailor

11th June 1901 - Ladies committee formed.

20th August 1903 - Bude Lifeboat Day - A balance of £38 profit was passed to the treasurer!

25th August 1904 - Lifeboat launched to Schooner "Crystal Spring" registered at Dundalk, Ireland - from Liverpool for Bude, under Maer High Cliff. It was found upon arrival that the crew were being pulled up
the cliff by the Rocket Brigade. The delay of the Lifeboat was attributed to the Harbour Master refusing to fill the Locks before there was 10 feet of water outside, which would support the gates.

12th July 1906 - The Hon Sec reported that since the last committee meeting (February 15th) the Lifeboat had been launched on service in the March of this year to the stranded Ketch "President Garfield" and rescued the crew of 3, when it was wrecked off Summerleaze.

The Story of the "President Garfield"

During the first half of 2003 I was contacted by a gentleman from Flintshire. When his Uncle passed away he found himself in possession of a ships bell with the name being "President Garfield" After a search of the internet he came across the Bude Lifeboat page with a reference to the Ketch President Garfield - This is what we discovered about her.

Built in 1881 at Amlwch by Capt. William Thomas - she was 54 tons net (later 48 tons net) and was built as a schooner for William Thomas Jr.
She was converted to a ketch rig before being sold to John W. Banbury of Bude in 1897. Fredrick Martin of Bude became her master.
March 14th 1906 - Leaving Bude for Newport in ballast, she became uncontrollable in the heavy ground swell and was stranded on Coach Rock, just off Summerleaze Beach. Bude Lifeboat was launched and took off the crew of three. These were Capt. F. Martin, an A.B. and a boy G. Vanstone.

In the February before this the President Garfield had herself been involved in a rescue by picking up 2 fishermen out of Boscastle, William Nicholls and Joe Bath. (See picture below) Due to bad weather they could not land but managed to sail to Pembrokeshire, South Wales - where they were able to put into port. The fishermen declined the offer of accommodation for the night and set off to walk back to Cornwall!

28th March 1908 - Committee receives an appeal from Newquay Lifeboat to aid the widow and children of Henry Storey one of the crew of the Newquay Lifeboat who was drowned on service on the 6th March.

18th July 1908 - A sum of £3-11s-6d was donated to Newquay Lifeboat to the widow of Henry Storey,

11th May 1909 - Bude Lifeboat launched to steam trawler "Scotia" which was stranded in a dense fog just above Northcott mouth but as the sea was smooth and hoping to re-float on high tide the Captain and crew refused to leave the vessel. On the evening tide efforts were to be made to re-float the "Scotia" and as she was in such a dangerous position among the rocks and the pounding sea apparently growing, the Lifeboat was re-launched and returned to the scene to standby and aid a Cardiff Steam tug by taking out ropes. Having ascertained that she was not taking water and required no further aid Bude Lifeboat returned to Station at 11.30pm

June 1911 - Entry found in committee book reference the arrival of the new Lifeboat at Bude
Signed by N Rowley - Deputy Chief Inspector of Lifeboats.

Name of Boat - Elizabeth Moore Garden
Type               - Self Righting
Size                 - Length 35 ft. Breadth 8ft. 10in.
Rig                  - Special - One Mast
Donor             - Gift - family of the late R.J.Garden
Keel                - Depth 6 1/2 in
Weight of Boat - 3 ton 11 cwt
Oars                 - 10. Round loomed
Stability             - No. of men on Gunwale to bring it awash with crew and gear in place - 19
                           No. of men to bring deck awash with crew and gear in place - 19

1913 - Launched to the ketch "Elizabeth" saving 5 - (No other details have been found for this service)

1915- Reference made to one service to S.S. Woodbridge (No other details found)

August 6th 1918 - Reference made to service to S.S. Hanleywood at Widemouth Bay

August 11th 1921 - Caterpillar tractor arrives at Bude for trials in pulling the Lifeboat. (Drivers were William Bate (driver/mechanic) & H Williams) The tractor proved only partially successful as it became stuck in the soft sand. Plans to launch the boat on Lifeboat day (18th August) had to be abandoned due to it being unable to drag the boat across the beach and was instead was towed around the town and launched into the canal where it went through the Lock and out to sea. (The route followed was via the Crescent, Strand, Belle Vue, Poughill Road, Downs View, and back by Maer Lake Road & Belle Vue. The return journey was full of incident - at the top of Belle Vue the clutch stuck and it was reported that it took 5 minutes to free it, then shortly after this when it was on The Strand the petrol pipe fractured from excessive vibration and the magneto also failed, repairs took over half an hour and the boat had to be unhitched and taken by man power to the canal where it was launched. After this the Inspector of Lifeboats withdrew the tractor and it was returned to London.

September 5th 1921 - Committee discussed a letter from Chief Inspector of Lifeboats with reference to closing the Station. The Secretary was directed to inform him that the boat could launch within two hours of high water or the Lifeboat could always launch with the aid of horses either from Summerleaze or Crooklets Beach

Over the early years Bude had a number of ‘Rescue’ boats and Lifeboats:
Rescue boat at Bude 1817
First Lifeboat 1837 (24’ 9” long - 8 oars)
Second Lifeboat 1853 (27’ long - 8 oars)
Third Lifeboat 1863 (Elizabeth Moore Garden I - 33’ long 10 oars)
Fourth Lifeboat 1886 (Elizabeth Moore Garden II - 34’ long 10 oars)
Fifth Lifeboat 1911 (Elizabeth Moore Garden III - 35’ long 10 oars)

1966 - Inshore Lifeboat Station established in May with the placing on service of a 'D' class Lifeboat. Royal Humane Society's resuscitation certificate awarded to M Moyle and A J Lovejoy in connection with the service on 30th May when a bather was rescued.

22nd June 1966

The Commissioning and Dedication Ceremony of Bude's first Inshore Rescue Boat. The Service was conducted by Canon Walter Prest, Vicar of Bude Haven, with three crew members -
Coxswain Ken Cunningham (right) with Michael Moyle & Ken Downing. The then Hon. Sec.
S.W. Whateley also received the RNLI's
Silver Badge.

1984 - A Vellum was awarded to commemorate the Station's aggregate service of 105 years - covering the periods 1837 to 1923 and 1966 to 1984.

1987 - New D class inshore Lifeboat (D343) presented to the Station which was provided by the kind generosity of many donors.

1991 - A framed letter of thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution was awarded to crew member - Simon Chadwick for displaying personal courage and presence of mind on 30th June. He volunteered to swim ashore from the Lifeboat through breaking surf, to investigate the yacht 'Mary E' hard aground on rocks at Pencarrow Point. The 70 year old skipper and sole occupant was found half way up a crumbling cliff face and he was exhausted. Simon Chadwick climbed the cliff and assisted in his rescue by helicopter.

1993 - The thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Helmsman Michael Sims, in recognition of his leadership, skill and courage when he took the Lifeboat stern first in the surf into a ledge and rescued two climbers, stranded at the base of the cliff inside Gull Rock, on the North side of Marsland Point, on the evening of 21st April. The two climbers were part of a group of five who were in danger of being cut off by the rising tide. Three of them were fit and willing to climb the cliff, but the fourth was suffering from shock and the other from lacerations, a suspected broken foot and back pains after a 30ft. fall.

Framed letters of appreciation signed by the Chairman, Mr. Michael Vernon, were presented to Crew members James Wade, for entering the surf and swimming 15 - 20 feet to the ledge, also to Keith Rayson (his first service launch) for the support he gave to both the survivors and his fellow crew members throughout the service.

1996 - New D Class Lifeboat (Elsie Frances II - D495) Placed on service. This Lifeboat is the second funded by the generosity of Mr. Stuart Underdown in memory of his mother.

1996 - 4th June - Thanks on Vellum was awarded to the whole Station at Bude, in recognition of the dedication shown for some twenty hours of searching for a missing child who had been swept off rocks at Sandymouth Bay, during a very heavy sea. As the Lifeboat was returning to station to refuel so that it could continue the search, they were alerted to another incident on Bude breakwater, where two people had been washed off due to a very rough sea. Crew member Gary Parkinson immediately jumped into the water, oblivious to his own safety, to grab one of the people who had struck his head and who was in grave danger of drowning. For his part in this rescue the Institution awarded him 'A Framed letter of thanks'

15th June. Naming ceremony and service of Dedication of 'Elsie Frances II

2002 - 15th August - Move from Lock Head site to purpose built Lifeboat House at Summerleaze

2003 - 22nd January - Silver Badge awarded to Mrs Sue Vanstone
The RNLI's prestigious Silver Badge awarded to Mrs. Sue Vanstone, Chairman of Bude RNLI Ladies Guild. The award is accompanied by the following citation from Richard Mann, the RNLI's National Fundraising Manager.
"On behalf of the Chief Executive, I am very pleased to inform you that the council has awarded the institution's Silver Badge in recognition of her individual services. I hope you will feel that this is also an honour conferred on Bude Guild and I am sure it will give great satisfaction to all your members."

The Silver badge was presented to Sue by Mr. Bill Young, the well known local author and historian, at the Falcon Hotel on Wednesday 22nd January. The ceremony was packed with well wishers from the Guild, the Committee, the Crew and her many friends. The evening ended with a hearty rendition by the Lifeboat Singers of 'Home from the Sea' and the Lifeboat anthem 'Harbour Lights'.

It was with great sadness that a few weeks after this award Sue passed away after a long illness. She will be sadly missed.

Constructed in 1966 when the first inshore Lifeboat was introduced at Bude, moving from this Boathouse marks the end of an era in the history of Bude Lifeboat. Our new premises will be situated at the back of Summerleaze beach.
The Lock-head site served us well for 35 years and has seen many a rescue.

The launch of Bude's new Lifeboat 'Elizabeth Moor Garden' September 9th 1911. Cox'n. Harry Barrett standing in the boat.
	1st. Cox'n. Harry Barrett. Picture taken on Lifeboat day at Bude - 1920.
Cox'n. Harry Bate - c1921
	Cox'n. Henry Stapleton