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RNLI Torbay |
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Registered Charity No. 209603 |
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BRIEF HISTORY OF THE STATION Visit the Table of Contents Page to see the full site map. The History Books page gives references to recent works relating to the Torbay Lifeboat Station. Please use the email address below if you wish something to be added. The Establishment of Brixham Lifeboat Station (Now Torbay Lifeboat Station) On the 10/11 January 1866 the English Channel was hit by a tremendous storm. Mariners of that time knew bad weather was approaching as 64 merchant ships both British and Foreign ran for shelter and anchored within Torbay and Brixham. The bad weather must have been close to a hurricane as some 40 vessels were lost and an estimated 100 lives were lost when the ships came under the intense storm. Teignmouth - who had a Lifeboat at this time - gathered up a team of horses and men and drew their Boat over the hills of Labrador Bay and launched in Torquay about 24 hours later - they heroically saved 11 lives - a true RNLI service in all respects. The Brixham Shipwrecked Relief Committee of the time collected an amazing sum of money from the public £3211-9s-5d which was distributed amongst the surviving families. The remaining money was used to construct a memorial to twenty eight men within the cemetery at St Mary's Church in Brixham. Following the news of this amazing storm, and its effect on Brixham, the City of Exeter found it possible to provide the first Lifeboat within Torbay. She was called 'The City of Exeter' and arrived in July 1866. At that time no Boat House existed by the waters edge and she was housed near Bolton Cross (Fish Town) in the middle of Brixham. The width of streets was such that initially at least the boat had to be towed by horses and men up and over St Mary's (Cow Town) and launched in St Mary's Bay. Today's Boat House is on the site that was established in 1873 and from then on Launches were less difficult! It was not until 1930 that the boat stayed afloat on a swinging mooring. During the autumn of 2007 the lifeboat 17-28 was provided with a pontoon mooring adjacent to the lifeboat house steps. This will speed up launch times and improve safety for the launching crew. It will also maintain availability of the high tech on board systems. The full detail of the station history can be found in the published 'History Books' and 'Museums'. Please see the appropriate sections of this site for detailed information.
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