Registered Charity No. UK 209603
Sunlight No. 1
1887 to 1902
On 15th October, 1887 a new lifeboat was sent by rail from London, arriving at Llandudno a few days later She was 37' x 8', 12 oared self-righter built by Forrestt at a cost of £529. The cost of this lifeboat and a new lifeboat for Brighton "Sunlight No. 2" was provided my Lever Brothers of Port Sunlight (the makers of Sunlight soap) who ran a special competition to fund the new lifeboats. At a ceremony at Llandudno on 3rd December, 1887, Mrs Crawley christened the new lifeboat watched by a large crowd, despite it being a bitterly cold day. Second coxswain, Edward Jones, caught a sever cold that day and sadly died a fortnight later. During 1887 a man who maliciously rang the lifeboat bell to summon the crew was fined £2:10/-, then a considerable sum of money, being the equivalent of an average month’s pay. |
jigsaw 17
RESCUE OF FISHERMEN BY THE
LLANDUDNO LIFEBOAT
(Sunlight No.1) on Monday 7th October, 1889
As I lay here upon my bed, With aching heart and broken leg,
My mind still thinks of the brave and true The Noble Men of the Lifeboat Crew:-
G.F. Felton, Captain; Richard Jones; Richard Thomas; J. Jones; J. Roberts; F. Jones; W. Jones; W. Lewis; J. Edwards;
T. Parry; W.L. Jones; R. Williams; T. Hughes; J. Williams; E. Evans; W. Jones; T. Jones; J. Hughes
Outside our sweet Llandudno Bay All could see at break of day
Two Fishing Smacks in danger lay, Go, rescue them the people say.
Our Gallant Crew soon were out, Along the beach the crowds they shout,
Clear the way and let her come To save is their duty, let it be done.
The noble craft now breaks the wave, Those men shan't have a watery grave,
We will rescue or will die, With oar in hand our boatmen cry.
Our Lads together is the Coxswain's shout, As the billows dash their boat about,
I have never seen it worse say's he It's mighty rough and a crossing sea.
The Cormorant dives, the white Gull's scream, The mountains cast their shadows green
Oh God stretch out your wings to save Shall these souls have a Mariners grave?
Now on the deck the Fisher's stand, With longing eyes they look to land,
They see the boat they try to cheer And pray that help to them is near.
The lifeline thrown, the aim is true, One end is grasped by that eager crew,
Jump for your lives the line won't break And do it quick for mercy sake.
The angry waves now wash and roar As the noble boat it makes for shore;
Propelled by arms that know no fear, As Mothers, Wives, and Children cheer.
The help now wanted is on the Pier, They see men's faces, they hear their cheer:
A few more strokes the danger past, Thank God those souls are safe at last.
Praise them in song, praise them in prayer, Of this life's duty they've done a share
Think of the deeds this brave crew's done, By the lifeboat's aid "Sunlight No.1"
May God His blessings on these men give, Keep them from danger while they live,
And when life is run and they must die, may they man His lifeboat in the sky.
(Sunlight No.1) on Monday 7th October, 1889
As I lay here upon my bed, With aching heart and broken leg,
My mind still thinks of the brave and true The Noble Men of the Lifeboat Crew:-
G.F. Felton, Captain; Richard Jones; Richard Thomas; J. Jones; J. Roberts; F. Jones; W. Jones; W. Lewis; J. Edwards;
T. Parry; W.L. Jones; R. Williams; T. Hughes; J. Williams; E. Evans; W. Jones; T. Jones; J. Hughes
Outside our sweet Llandudno Bay All could see at break of day
Two Fishing Smacks in danger lay, Go, rescue them the people say.
Our Gallant Crew soon were out, Along the beach the crowds they shout,
Clear the way and let her come To save is their duty, let it be done.
The noble craft now breaks the wave, Those men shan't have a watery grave,
We will rescue or will die, With oar in hand our boatmen cry.
Our Lads together is the Coxswain's shout, As the billows dash their boat about,
I have never seen it worse say's he It's mighty rough and a crossing sea.
The Cormorant dives, the white Gull's scream, The mountains cast their shadows green
Oh God stretch out your wings to save Shall these souls have a Mariners grave?
Now on the deck the Fisher's stand, With longing eyes they look to land,
They see the boat they try to cheer And pray that help to them is near.
The lifeline thrown, the aim is true, One end is grasped by that eager crew,
Jump for your lives the line won't break And do it quick for mercy sake.
The angry waves now wash and roar As the noble boat it makes for shore;
Propelled by arms that know no fear, As Mothers, Wives, and Children cheer.
The help now wanted is on the Pier, They see men's faces, they hear their cheer:
A few more strokes the danger past, Thank God those souls are safe at last.
Praise them in song, praise them in prayer, Of this life's duty they've done a share
Think of the deeds this brave crew's done, By the lifeboat's aid "Sunlight No.1"
May God His blessings on these men give, Keep them from danger while they live,
And when life is run and they must die, may they man His lifeboat in the sky.
Sunlight No. 1 recorded
her
first
service on 7th October, 1889 being
launched at 0950 after two fishing smacks had signalled for assistance
whilst at anchor three miles out in Llandudno Bay. In heavy seas
and a full gale the lifeboat rescued the crew of four form one boat and
landed them safely on the Pier then returned to other boat and rescued
her crew of four landing then on the beach. In 1890 Llandudno was
a well known holiday resort and many distinguished people holidayed
there. In September of that year the Queen of Roumania spent some
time in Llandudno and witnessed the launch of the lifeboat. Her
Majesty was so impressed with what she saw that she made a donation of
£10 to the lifeboat fund. In November, 1890 John Hughes was
appointed coxswain.
During the time the Sunlight No.1 was in service there were two fatal accidents involving shore helpers. On 7th November, 1890 Robert Williams was killed after falling in front on one of the heavy carriage wheels and on 8th August, 1892 Arthur Whalley was run over by the lifeboat carriage. On both occasions the RNLI donated £100 to the fund which was set up for their dependants. Sunlight I launched 19 times and saved 26 lives. In 1893 is was decreed that in the future the station be known as Llandudno instead of Ormes Head. In 1894 launching poles were supplied. In 1899 owing to the high charges, use of horses was discontinued and more helpers were employed |
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