Recently, lifeboats visits officer David Rees visited the ladies' Cameo group at Tenby Salvation Army.

The men were invited to attend the group on this occasion especially for David's talk. He gave a fascinating talk about the RNLI. He told about some of the history and the spectacular and heroic rescues by the Tenby RNLI.

He related accounts of how in the past, on many occasions, the crew would have to 'ride the waves' and then grab people in order to rescue them. He told about the many awards and medals for bravery that the crews of Tenby RNLI had earned over the years since the first six silver medals in the 1800s. He also told about the 'Haydn Miller' Tamar class lifeboat that is stationed in Tenby

Tenby lifeboat station has operated for over 150 years and has a D-class inshore lifeboat as well as the Tamar class all-weather lifeboat that was placed in service in 2006. This Tamar class lifeboat can be launched from a slipway, her mast can be lowered to fit into a boat house, it has an integrated electronic system and information management system (SIMS), shock absorbing seats, and much more and it can self-right.

There's been a lifeboat station in Tenby since 1852 established by the Shipwrecked Fishermen's and Marines Royal Benevolent Society until the RNLI took over the station in 1854. The RNLI then built a boathouse on the harbour beach in 1862 and then in 1905 they built a new station with a roller slipway on the north side of Castle Hill. Then a new inshore lifeboat station was built in 1976 on the north side of the harbour.

David told us much more. His talk really opened our eyes to the work that our RNLI heroes do and the dangers they face. The ladies Cameo group were able to raise £275 towards the work of the RNLI in Tenby. Lifeboats visits officer David Rees gratefully received this gift on behalf of the Tenby lifeboat crew.

Marie Morton