A special historical RNIPLS Silver Medal - awarded to a Tenby boatman in recognition of an act of intrepid heroism has been loaned to Tenby Museum and Art Gallery to go on display.

There is a long and proud history of lifesaving at sea in Tenby - highlighted by a Silver Medal awarded to John Ray for his part in helping to rescue the lives of several of the crew of a vessel wrecked off Tenby in 1834.

Some years later, in 1852, the first lifeboat station was established in the seaside town by the Shipwrecked Mariners Society, being handed over to the RNLI two years later, beginning an association unbroken over three centuries.

John Ray was awarded the Honorary Medallion of the Royal Humane Society [RHS] at the Annual Meeting on February 4, 1835, in recognition of his act of heroism on November 6, 1834, when he helped to rescue, along with 11 other men in two boats, three men from the sloop Mary, during stormy weather.

The Royal Humane Society Annual Report of 1835 includes a roll of honour of people receiving awards that year and the entry for John Ray reads: ‘Ray’s intrepidity may be equalled – it cannot be surpassed. It is almost needless to add that the Honorary Medallion has been unanimously awarded him.’

The Annual Report also included a letter, from a Mrs. Manning and Mr. William Richards of Tenby to the RHS which described John Ray’s (formerly a pearl diver) act of heroism ‘regardless of his own perilous situation’ - praising the ‘undaunted humanity’ he showed.

The silver medal was first issued in 1775 and is the Society’s oldest and highest award. It has been awarded to people who have - put themselves in extreme personal danger; carried out a very long and arduous rescue; returned repeatedly to a highly dangerous situation.

Members of John Ray’s family were present at the recent presentation to the Museum, including - Mervyn Thomas (great, great, great grandson); Julie Dudley - nee Booker (great, great, great granddaughter); Rhys Thomas (great, great, great, great grandson) and custodian of the medal, who is kindly loaning it to Tenby Museum on behalf of all of the Thomas family; along with his mother Karen Thomas.

Former Tenby RNLI Coxswain Alan Thomas was also present (with members of his family as well), as he was awarded the Silver Medal, and the Maud Smith Award for bravery back in 1990, in recognition of his outstanding courage, determination and fine seamanship, when the lifeboat went to the assistance of two fishing vessels in a Force Nine gale.

The skipper of the fishing vessel Silver Stream was trapped in his wheelhouse and Mr. Thomas showed great skill and courage to manoeuvre the lifeboat into position to enable the man to be pulled through the wheelhouse window to safety by lifeboat crew. The two crew members from the other fishing boat, the New Venture, were also saved.

The Silver Medal will go on display at Tenby Museum on Castle Hill in due course.