RNLI Mudeford lifeboat station marks 60 year anniversary

Volunteers from the RNLI Mudeford lifeboat station met at Mudeford Quay on Wednesday morning to mark the major milestone.

A minute's silence was held before the original launch siren was sounded at 10am - exactly 60 years on from when station first went live.

Crews then shared talks together and took photographs against the stunning backdrop of the quay.

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Attending the celebrations was the president of Mudeford RNLI, Andy Russell, who was also a member of the first ever crew there.

Volunteers gather to mark 60 years (Image: NQ)

Andy told the Daily Echo: “I’ve been here from day one when we had the first inshore boats to test, and I’ve been involved ever since.

“The best thing about this place is the speed at which we can launch. When you’re dealing with people in the water, time is of the essence. This station has a good record from day one.”

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Reflecting on how the RNLI’s work has changed over the decades, Andy said: “You wouldn’t recognise it from when we started. Back then, we had inflatables, no communications, no weather gear.

“Most of us members were fishermen so we used our own gear, and because there were no communications we had to learn visual morse to communicate from the scene and that takes time.”

Sally Derham-Wilkes and Andy Russell on Wednesday (Image: NQ)

Sally Derham-Wilkes, president of the Mudeford RNLI fundraising crew, was also in attendance on Wednesday. 

Sally described the occasion as “emotional”, since she had sounded the first ever siren to alert crews in Mudeford to a lifeboat launch.

She told the Daily Echo: “It’s a very very special day, because I’ve been involved all along. It’s been a part of my life since I was a teenager.

“It has changed out of all recognition really. If it wasn’t for the fisherman here in the first place that knew the water and knew the boats, we wouldn’t have all this here today.

“We would lose so many people if the RNLI wasn’t here. Mudeford wouldn’t be the sort of place and holiday destination it is without them.”