About 40 members attended at Augustus Place Hall at 2pm on Wednesday, October 5, to hear Nicole Evans talk about the history of Tenby Lifeboats.

It is just about 200 years since William Hillary started Lifeboats, and the first one Tenby had was a ten-oared, self-righting boat, with the crew wearing cork life jackets, and running when the maroon went off for an emergency. The lifeboat went out from by the blue house on Harbour Beach, which was called Penniless Cove then. In 1862 “Florence” had a new house built on Castle Beach. In 1885 a committee of ‘Ladies’ was formed by Ada Collins. In 1894 another new house was built for a new 12 oar boat. Today paddle boats and kayaks get into trouble, but in those early days it was cargo, and fishing trawlers etc. In 1905 the Boathouse was built which lately featured as a home in ‘Grand Designs’.

A motor boat arrived with Princess Marina Duchess of Kent coming for the launching. Nicole said she was very jealous of the twins of one of the crew who presented the Duchess with a bouquet! Nicole told the members, many of whom had had family also in the boat crews, about various rescues and more about the modern boats, the new lifeboat house, the shop, the Ladies Guild named as such in 1969, etc.

Members were told it costs £2million a week to run the lifeboats. The Friendship Club had a raffle and raised £100 for Nicole to give to the lifeboats. Everyone had an enjoyable, and for some a very informative, afternoon. Thank you, Nicole.

The next meeting is on October 25, 2pm. The British Legion are now not coming to talk to the club until the new year, so this meeting will be watching Kurling and Boccia being played. Come and enjoy a bit of fun, and you will be able to have a turn to play if you want. The following week the meeting will be all “pink”.