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Saturday 19 Jul 2025
Newfoundland Dog Rescue Display
The Quay, 12.30pm
Come and see these popular and remarkable rescue dogs in action at the quayside in Wells next-the Sea. The event is free to watch (just turn up and bag a good spot) but a collection for the RNLI will be taken during the display. The inshore lifeboat will launch and come down to the quayside if available. Our thanks to East Anglian Working Newfoundlands, both dogs and owners, for once again coming down and putting on a show and supporting the lifeboat. Please note that the start time can vary a bit on the day depending on both the dogs and the tide so it's best to arrive a bit early and find somewhere with a good view.
The Boathouse, 10am - 5pm To join in with Wells Carnival week, we'll be welcoming people to the boathouse on Wednesday 8th August, with our Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 13-46 'Duke of Edinburgh' on display (unless, of course, she's needed for an emergency) on the north apron in front of the boathouse if the weather is good and our inshore lifeboat launching for a quick display in the afternoon. Crew, shore crew and other station volunteers will be on-hand to chat about the lifeboat, the lifeboat station and the work we do. Our shop and visitor centre will be open too. There is no need to book. Do come and say hello!
The Quay, 7pm Service Sheets Printed service sheets will be available on the quay on the day and possibly on-line for phone or tablet nearer the time.
Wednesday 6 Aug 2025
Carnival Open Day
Sunday 24 Aug 2025
64th Annual Lifeboat Service
Join crew, launchers and station volunteers along with local residents and supporters on Wells Quay for a short Sunday service and celebration of the lifeboat. Both lifeboats launch and run up to the quayside for a service with hymns and readings. The lifeboats are joined by a flotilla of small boats which anchor in the channel to take part and Fakenham Town Band provides the music. Please arrive at the quayside in good time if you'd like to attend. The service will last approximately 45 minutes. There is no charge to attend but a collection for the RNLI will be taken. Small boats are welcome to take part as a waterborne congregation, ideally anchored to the east of the pontoons leaving space for the all-weather lifeboat to manoeuvre. The inshore lifeboat will distribute service sheets and take a collection from vessels at the end of the service
Calendar
July 2025
August 2025
November 2025
Shop Opening Times
Our shop and viewing gallery are normally open weekends from Friday to Monday 10-4 along with extra days in the holidays and whenever we can. In good weather, the main boathouse doors may also be open to view the all-weather lifeboat from the front. See our visits page for more information.
Cut off on Stiffkey marshes
The inshore lifeboat goes to rescue people cut off by a large spring tide on Stiffkey marshes, 30 March 2025
RNLI 200
The RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, a milestone marked nationally and by lifeboat crews and stations
around the UK.
Lifeboat Horse marking 200 years in the quay
Shannon lifeboat
and boathouse build
Wells RNLI is now operating from the new building. See the boathouse build pages for the story of how the new station was built.
Our new Shannon lifeboat was funded in part with a station appeal for £250,000 in 2014-15 and also by the Civil Service charity The Lifeboat Fund with its 150th Anniversary Appeal. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has donated, fund-raised, helped and supported us both locally and across the UK and further afield.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity, registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). This website is managed and maintained by local volunteers at Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station and is not the main RNLI site. All text and images copyright (C)2005-2021 RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station, or as indicated, and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced elsewhere without prior permission of the station or the relevant copyright holder.