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62nd Annual Lifeboat Service

Wed 16 Aug 2023

Crew and lifeboat alongside for our annual lifeboat service at the quay

Our thanks to all who joined us on the quay on Sunday 13th August for our 62nd Annual Lifeboat Service, the first conducted from our new Shannon-class lifeboat RNLB 13-46 Duke of Edinburgh. Your support and donations are always appreciated but particularly at the end of a very long day for our volunteers which started just after 2am when the lifeboat was launched to assist a yacht into Wells harbour.

Lifeboat named by HRH The Duke of Kent

Mon 5 Jun 2023

Wells next-the-Sea RNLI’s dedication and naming ceremony for the new lifeboat station, its new Shannon class lifeboat and its SLRS launch and recovery rig took place on Saturday 3rd June.

The RNLI's President HRH The Duke of Kent officially named the lifeboat 'Duke of Edinburgh' to commemorate The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s long-standing commitment to maritime services and recognise a lifetime of support to the RNLI’s longest serving Patron, Queen Elizabeth II. RNLI Vice President Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence named the launch and recovery rig after its principal donor Patricia Jean Bettany.

Representatives of the many who have helped to raise funds to enable these new lifesaving assets attended including the Bradbury Foundation and The Lifeboat Fund who handed over the new boathouse and lifeboat into the care of the RNLI.

RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie accepted them on behalf of the RNLI and handed them into the care of the lifeboat station. Chris Hardy, Wells RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager then accepted them on behalf of the station before a service of dedication led by Wells RNLI’s Station Chaplain, Rev. Neil Woodruffe.

The guests were treated to a new verse in the hymn 'Eternal Father' sung by Wells Churches Together Choir, written by RNLI crew member Richard John MacDonald at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station to capture the ‘courage, strength and grace’ of all who risk their lives at sea to help others. This was the first time this special 'lifeboat verse' has been featured at an RNLI event.

RNLB Duke of Edinburgh is the third all-weather lifeboat at Wells to be named by a member of the Royal family. The Oakley class lifeboat RNLB Ernest Tom Neathercoat was named by HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent in 1965, and the Mersey class lifeboat RNLB Doris M Mann of Ampthill by HRH Duchess of Kent in July 1990.

Mark Dowie said "It’s a great honour, not just for Wells Lifeboat Station but for the RNLI as a whole to name a lifeboat in honour of The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."

"We have included a special feature on the lifeboat’s waterline transom plate in recognition of His Royal Highness' naval career, installed by His Majesty The King when he visited the RNLI All weather Lifeboat Centre in June 2021. The plate has been specially engraved with a magpie to commemorate HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's service as Commanding Officer onboard HMS Magpie."

"We are delighted our President HRH The Duke of Kent has joined us today. The Duke's warmth, generosity and understanding of our lifesaving work is incredibly valued by this charity and the time His Royal Highness spends with our volunteers is greatly appreciated by the Institution."

The second part of the event took place on the quay, from 4pm, with The Blakeney Old Wild Rovers playing and singing sea shanties until the new lifeboat was launched to join in with proceedings at 5pm.

Mark Dowie addressed the community to thank them for their unwavering support to the lifeboat station.

Chris Hardy, Wells RNLI's volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, said "Saturday heralded a new chapter of lifesaving for Wells RNLI. It was a momentous occasion and was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the new lifeboat station, lifeboat and launch and recovery system and the sunshine was an extra blessing."

Naming ceremony and dedication of the new boathouse

Fri 28 Apr 2023

On Saturday 3rd June 2023 Wells' new Shannon-class lifeboat RNLB 13-46 Duke of Edinburgh will be officially named and, together with the SLARS launch and recovery rig and the new lifeboat station building, will be dedicated to the service of saving lives at sea. The ceremony will start at 2.30pm at the new boathouse and, due to limited space, will be for invited guests only. Following this, the lifeboat will launch and run up to the quay for a public dedication.

Events at the quayside will start at 4pm with help from the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers. The lifeboat will arrive at approximately 5pm and crew and guests will disembark and proceed to the stage where an address will be given by the RNLI's Chief Executive, Mark Dowie.

This may be a busy and crowded event and we are grateful to Wells Harbour for the use of the quay which has plenty of room and space, if needed, to extend towards the east end or down along the beach bank for everyone to get a good view.

Anyone wishing to see the boat ashore or to avoid a crowd should note that we will be having further viewing days at the boathouse over the summer, that it is usually possible to visit the viewing gallery and see the boat whenever the lifeboat souvenir shop is open and that, on some days in good weather, the main boathouse doors are opened so the boat can be seen from ground level.

New 3D walkthrough tour of Wells lifeboat station

Mon 20 Mar 2023

Local photographer (and Sheringham lifeboat volunteer crew member) Chris Taylor has created an on-line 3D walkthrough tour of our new boathouse and our Shannon class all-weather lifeboat 'Duke of Edinburgh'. You can look round the building and even go on-board the Shannon from the comfort of your own screen and mouse. To start the tour, click on the link below. To move around, tap on the overlaid white circles... it is also possible to zoom in and out and turn round from any location.

Our thanks to Chris for his expertise and effort in making the tour and for making it available to all.

Mersey leaves Wells

Tue 21 Feb 2023

After her farewell do at the quay on 11 February, Wells' outoging Mersey-class lifeboat RNLB Doris M Mann of Ampthill  left Wells at 07:18 on Monday 20 February, sailing for Lowestoft with six of the station's longest serving crew members. A small crowd of crew and family waved the boat off, with the boathouse and boat's flags being dipped in salute, a final nod to the town and four white flares fired from the boat just off the harbour. The boat performed flawlessly, making excellent time in slight seas and bright sunshine, and was safely tied up by Lowestoft lifeboat station at 11:00.

A thank you to Blakeney Old Wild Rovers

Tue 21 Feb 2023

Over the years, the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers have raised over £24,000 for Wells lifeboat station. On Friday 17 February, they were invited to a tour of the new station and to see our new Shannon class lifeboat. Gary Mears of The Old Wild Rovers said, "We are all based by the sea and have connections to the local lifeboat stations, Wells, Sheringham and Cromer, with some of the crew being great mates of ours, so the RNLI is a charity close to our hearts."

Since 1999 the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers have been singing their way round Norfolk raising money for the RNLI and other charities close to their hearts. To date they have raised over £250,000, holding various events within the local community, and regularly supporting at lifeboat station events. On behalf of Wells RNLI, Coxswain Nicky King said. "We are extremely grateful to the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers for all their hard work and continued support. The RNLI as a charity relies on the kindness and generosity of people such as The Old Wild Rovers, and what better way to help our volunteer crew continue to be able to save lives at sea than with a sea shanty."

Saying goodbye to the Mersey

Sun 12 Feb 2023

Carrying a good number of the Wells volunteer crew, Wells' retiring Mersey-class lifeboat 12 003 RNLB Doris M Mann of Ampthill made her way up to the quayside today to say goodbye to her home after over 32 years of service as the town's lifeboat. The inshore lifeboat and Hunstanton Lifeboat joined her, the Hunstanton crew kindly making their way round to Wells as a surprise.

The boats were met on the quayside by friends and family of the lifeboat, local residents and well wishers from further afield, including crew from Skegness lifeboat and people with a connection with the station or boat. 

Blakeney Old Wild Rovers sang sea shanties from a lorry trailer, having been stalwart fund-raisers for the station over the years. With the Mersey tied up on the pontoons, the crew joined the Old Wild Rovers on a very crowded stage to sing The Old Wild Rover with them.

We'd like to offer our thanks to everyone who turned out and turned up to say goodbye to 'Doris... it was wonderful to see so many people out and a fine send-off. And to 'Doris herself who not only has such a fine record on duty with the station but, steadfast as ever, continued in service years longer than originally intended right until the day that the new Shannon lifeboat was finally ready to go on service, includling being kept in the open on the beach in winter in her final weeks here.

The Mersey is due to leave Wells shortly, initially sailing to Lowestoft and it is likely she will soon retire from active service with the RNLI.

Farewell to the Mersey

Mon 6 Feb 2023

With our Shannon going on service in the new boathouse, the station's long-serving Mersey-class lifeboat 12-003 RNLB Doris M Mann of Ampthill will shortly be leaving the town. After over 32 years and launching on service 286 times, the oldest serving lifeboat in the fleet will be sailed up to Wells quay on Sunday 12th February around 11am for people to come and say goodbye. All are welcome and the Blakeney Old Wild Rovers will be singing shanties from 10.30am to 11.30am so please come and join us to give her the send off she deserves.