Bude Lifeboat Station

Bude Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Bude, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It operates a D-class lifeboats, which since 2012 has been the George Bird (D-756).

History
As a result of two shipwrecks in 1836, King William IV was petitioned to provide a lifeboat for Bude. This was built in Sunderland and was placed in service in 1837. Although approved by the National Institution for the Preservation of Life in Cases of Shipwreck (as the RNLI was known at the time), it was operated by a local independent association. It capsized during an exercise in 1844 and two of the crew were drowned.

In 1853 the RNLI provided a new lifeboat and a lifeboat house was built next to the Bude Canal in 1863. On 3 March 1877 Coxswain James Maynard was drowned when the lifeboat capsized while returning from a service.

This lifeboat station was closed in 1923.

The RNLI began to station inshore lifeboats (ILBs) around Cornwall from 1964. These could provide quicker rescues to the increasing number of leisure craft that were being used. From 1966 one was stationed at Bude, kept in a building near the South Pier from where it was launched across the beach. Trials were made in 2000 to test a new site at Summerleaze Beach. These were successful and a new lifeboat station was opened there in 2002.

Awards
W.H. Tregidgo was awarded the RNLI silver medal after rescuing two men from a shipwreck on 9 October 1853. On 13 March 1858 he took part in a rescue with men from the Coastguard, together they saved 17 men from the Defence after it ran aground and the rescuers were awarded silver medals. The following year Tredigo earned a third silver medal for his part in rescuing the crews of the Union and the Anais when they were both wrecked in a storm on 26 October 1859.

Coxswain James Maynard was awarded a gold medal by the Spanish government after rescuing the crew of a Spanish ship which ran aground north of Bude in 1865. In 1880, Coxswain T. Bate led the rescue of four people from a boat wrecked on Padstow breakwater, for which he received an RNLI silver medal.

Members of Bude's ILB crew have been recognised for their bravery several times. The RNLI's 'Thanks inscribed on velum' was presented for rescues in 1993 and 1996, and framed letter of thanks were given to crew members by the RNLI's chairman after both these rescues and another in 1991.

Pulling and sailing lifeboats
'Pulling and sailing' lifeboats were equipped with oars but could use sails when conditions allowed. 'ON' is the Official Number of the boat used in RNLI records from 1884.

Inshore lifeboats
'Op. No.' is the Operational Number carried on the side of the boat.