RNLI Ilfracombe

18/06/2026

This morning, RNLI Ilfracombe's new B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived in the Harbour. We will now have a period of intensive training with the Patrick and Dianne O'Connor so that all our crew become familiar with her.

We will be practising many skills, including launching and recovery, so there will be plenty of opportunities to see the Patrick and Dianne O'Connor in action, along with another Atlantic 85, the Vivacious Atlantic, which also arrived this morning for our crew to use in training.

The Atlantic 85 is a very fast, manoeuvrable boat perfect for rescues close to our rocky coastline and we are all very excited to put the Patrick and Dianne O'Connor through her paces. She is going to be a great asset for our station.

17/06/2026

These lovely photographs are of girls collecting for the Ilfracombe lifeboats at an annual Lifeboat Day which were held each September. The photographs are from the family album of Captain Birmingham who was a member of the Ilfracombe Lifeboat Committee in the early 1900s before becoming Harbour Master.

The Lifeboat Days were often marked not only by a collection in the town but entertainment in the Pavilion and a demonstration of the lifeboat launching.

16/06/2026

Amazing feat Nik!

Very hard to see in this pic, but we managed to spot Nik Banks and his support vessels this morning on their way from Lundy to Croyde.

Nik has raised almost £2,000 so far for Clovelly Lifeboat Station, RNLI Appledore Lifeboat Station and RNLI Ilfracombe - see his fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/nikolas-banks-2?msockid=1a428e9f5c6361d5096d98325ddf6094

16/06/2026

Congratulations to all at RNLI Appledore Lifeboat Station as their new Shannon all-weather lifeboat was brought into service yesterday. We are looking forward to working with you!

As of 13.32 today our new Shannon class lifeboat no 13.32 Ruth and David Arthur replaced Mollie Hunt, our Tamar, as our official operational lifeboat on service. Congratulations to all the crew for their hard work with this and all the retraining they have undertaken

15/06/2026

Today the Lifeboat Station flag has been lowered to honour the memory of two men who lost their lives in the pursuit of their efforts to save lives at sea.

Bill Ewen and Frank Petsch of Marine Rescue NSW, Australia, tragically lost their lives in Ballina last month.

Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.

We invite maritime SAR organisations around the world to honour the memory of Bill Ewen and Frank Petsch of Marine Rescue NSW, Australia, who tragically lost their lives in Ballina last month, by lowering flags to half-mast on Monday 15 June, the day of Bill’s funeral.

Their passing is a solemn reminder of the courage, dedication and sacrifice of those who put themselves at risk to save lives at sea. By joining us in this tribute, we acknowledge not only Bill and Frank’s service, but the commitment of all maritime SAR personnel who answer the call to help others in times of need.

If you are marking this tribute, please share photos with us at [email protected] so we can share them with the wider community.

14/06/2026

12/06/2026

In weather that felt more like November than June, our volunteer crews launched both lifeboats for training on the water.

And our new shore crew trainees were put through their paces by our SLARS drivers.

11/06/2026

Some of our crew are in Poole this week training on an Atlantic 85 in the pool of the RNLI College.

A particularly important skill is righting the lifeboat should it ever capsize and this is what our volunteers have been focusing on.

09/06/2026

Ex-North Devon Lifeguard Nik Banks is taking on a massive swim challenge in aid of the RNLI.

If conditions allow Nik will be embarking on a solo swim from Lundy to Croyde, a huge swim he’s been preparing months for.

Every fundraiser has a story of why they take on challenges, and Nik’s is very close to his heart as a lifeguard who helped keep people safe at sea but also has very personal connection as well.

We’re looking forward to welcoming in Nik on Croyde when he finishes!

Help Nikolas Banks raise money to support RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

09/06/2026

This amazing photograph is thought to be Ilfracombe lifeboat crew with the Richard Crawley lifeboat in front of the St Phillips and St James church. The Richard Crawley was our lifeboat between 1921 and 1936.

The woolly hats worn by the crew were red. The coxswains of the Richard Crawley were John Comer and then Sydney Williams.

With thanks to Steve Robinson of Ilfracombe in Photos Past and Present