| 1830 |
The first lifeboat placed at Wells was of the Greathead North Country type. It came from Cromer
when a new boat was received there and was provided by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association. This boat
served at Wells until 1852. |
| 1869 |
The RNLI took over operation of the lifeboat in Wells. A Lifeboat house was
constructed at the west end of the quay at a cost of £300.
|
| 1880 |
On 29 October the Wells Lifeboat Eliza Adams capsized when returning to shore after a
service launch. Eleven out of her crew of 13 were drowned, leaving 10 widows and 27 children. The
Institution voted £1000 towards a fund raised locally for the dependants and paid the funeral
expenses of the men. |
| 1895 |
New Lifeboat house and slipway constructed on Wells Beach. |
| 1896 |
The RNLI sells the original lifeboat house to Wells Urban District Council for £75. One of the few examples
of this distinctive RNLI design to survive without major alterations, it is now the Wells Harbour Office
and has being restored and refurbished to a high standard for the use of visiting sailors. |
| 1936 |
Wells became the last station in Britain to use horses to launch a lifeboat. The station
gets its first motor lifeboat the Surf-class Royal Silver Jubilee 1910-1935 and launching tractor. |
| 1942 |
Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to Coxswain T Neilsen for his gallantry
in going aboard a crashed Lancaster bomber on 14 July to search for survivors. One airman was rescued
but there was no sign of any other member of the crew as the coxswain hoisted himself on to the
edge of the wing and walked along the fuselage. Its top had been blown away and he climbed inside.
At any moment the aircraft might have turned and sank and the coxswain would have been trapped inside
her. |
| 1946 |
On the night of 5 January, seven German prisoners of war impatient to get home stole a lorry and
drove to the lifeboat house, broke open a window and tried to start the engine of the lifeboat but
gave up the attempt. The men were arrested when they returned to the lorry. |
| 1955 |
Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to Coxswain W Cox for the rescue of five
of the crew from the SS Zor of Instanbul on 18 May. The wind was northerly, strong to gale with
squalls of sleet and hail. The Zor was loaded with timber and as each successive sea hit her the
baulks of wood fell from her deck into the sea. |
| 1962 |
US Air Force entertained the crew of Wells Lifeboat to a dinner in gratitude for the part
played in the search for American airmen. A plaque was also presented and fixed in the boathouse.
|
| 1963 |
Bronze medal awarded to Second Coxswain F Taylor for the rescue of two people from the
cabin cruiser Seamu on 18/19 May in a strong west-north westerly breeze and rough sea.
|
|
D-Class lifeboat sent to station in June. |
| 1964 |
Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to Coxswain D J Cox for the
determination and courage he displayed in attempting to carry out a service to the
yacht Kiskadee on 29/30 August. The yacht was aground on a sandbank about half a mile west
of Blakeney Point, lying beam on to a confused sea that was washing over her. There was heavy
breaking surf and it was a very dark night and, although four attempts were made, the lifeboat was
unable to reach the yacht and she stood by while a shore boat took the Kiskadee in tow.
|
|
On 28 December the lifeboat was launched to stand by the oil rig Sea Gem and was on
service for 21 hours in very severe weather conditions. There was a northerly wind of gale force,
a very heavy swell and sleet and rain were falling intermittently during the whole service,
which was recognised by the Committee of Management by the granting of additional
monetary awards to the coxswain and crew. |
| 1969 |
Century Vellum awarded to station. |
| 1978 |
The Inshore Lifeboat Shed was destroyed by gales which battered the east coast during January. A new
shed was built as an extension of the main boathouse to house the ILB. |
| 1979 |
Silver medal awarded to Coxswain David Cox in recognition of his courage, determination and
seamanship when the lifeboat under his command stood by the Rumanian cargo vessel Savinesti
which had broken down and lost both her anchors north of the South Race Buoy in an east-north-easterly
hurricane, extremely poor visibility due to heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures and a very rough sea
on 15 February. |
| 1981 |
Bronze medal awarded to Coxswain David Cox in recognition of the courage determination and
seamanship displayed by him when the lifeboat under his command rescued the crew of four of the
motor fishing vessel Sarah-K which was in difficulties with her engine room flooded off
Woolpack Buoy in a strong north westerly gale with rough short seas on 20 November. |
| 1984 |
A new crewroom was built above the inshore lifeboat, along with access stairs which also
provided easier boarding to the all-weather lifeboat. |
| 1990 |
The new Mersey-class lifeboat Doris M Mann of Ampthill arrived on station. The boathouse was
extensively modified to accommodate the larger vessel... although crew members on the bow still have to duck
as the lifeboat is launched. |
| 1996 |
Framed letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution was awarded to the
all-weather lifeboat crew and shore helpers for the service to the fishing vessel Remus with
a crew of two which was reported in difficulties on the west bar. The lifeboat proceeded in rough
seas and Force 7/8 winds. An attempt to float a line to Remus was unsuccessful. The coxswain
decided to drop anchor and called for the station tractor to be brought to the waters edge where
Remus had now grounded. A rocket line was fired and hauled in by the shore helpers. Two
crew members in the shore party boarded the Remus and secured a tow which was passed by use
of the rocket line and illumination from a helicopter. The fishing vessel was taken in tow and the
coxswain headed to the west to a gap through the west bar, which was safely negotiated into
deeper waters. This service was carried out in darkness, shallow waters and near Gale Force winds
on 17 November. |
