Flag raised at new lifeboat station for RNLI Wells

A special ceremony took place on Sunday, November 13 to signify RNLI Wells' transfer from its old lifeboat station to a new, state-of-the-art facility.

Alongside it, the new RNLI shop and visitor centre was also opened. 

Flag being lowered at the old lifeboat station by Billy Scoles, Fred Whitaker and Phil Eaglen MBE (Image: Chris Taylor)

Volunteer crew members, past and present, as well as the wider lifeboat family, watched as the RNLI flag was lowered at the old lifeboat station at exactly 12:03. It was raised at the new station at 13.46. 

The times relate to the numbers on the station’s lifeboats: 12-03 is the number on Doris M Mann, the station’s existing Mersey class lifeboat, and 13-46 is the number on Duke of Edinburgh, the station’s new Shannon class lifeboat which will become operational later this year.

The new station, which was finally completed at the end of last month, was funded entirely by the public.

An appeal raised £250,000, while money from civil service charity, The Lifeboat Fund, made up the rest.

Preparing to raise the flag at the new lifeboat station by the Earl of Leicester, Peter Rainsford, Richard Cracknell and Martin Emerson (Image: Chris Taylor)

Former crew members, aided by serving senior members and the Earl of Leicester, lowered and raised the flag.

Chris Hardy, lifeboat operations manager for Wells, said: “All of our lifeboat crew were thrilled to finally transfer to our new purpose-built boathouse.

"The new boathouse provides vastly improved crew-changing facilities, and a large and well-equipped crew room, which will also double up as an excellent and much-needed crew training facility."

Doris M Mann remains the station’s main vessel and will continue to save lives at sea over the coming months. 

RNLI shop welcomes excited customers (Image: RNLI)

Early next year, the Mersey will be retired and people will have an opportunity to say farewell before she leaves after 32 years of service.

The Duke of Edinburgh will become fully operational during the winter once the volunteer crew have completed their training for use of the boat and its launch and recovery system.

As well as housing Wells' lifeboats, the station's visitor centre provides an opportunity for the public to view the new Shannon. 

The shop and visitor centre will be open most Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm during the winter. 

From January, guided tours of the station can be booked at wellslifeboat.org/visit.