Bude lifeboat station has operated for over 125 years and the crews have been presented with awards for gallantry. It's different from other Lifeboat stations in as much as it has to launch into the surf by tractor and with the often treacherous weather conditions of the unpredictable Atlantic Ocean, the crew, who are all volunteers, have to be very skilled! {p style="text-align: left">For years the Bude Lifeboat Station was only open during the summer and dealt with mainly beach safety issues and the rescue of people who, for example, had been cut off by the tide. These days Bude Lifeboat Station is open all year with both the Boat crew and a hard working Shore crew who maintain and prepare the lifeboat. These guys deserve to take just as much of the glory as the Boat crew because without them the Bude Lifeboat wouldn't be float. Did you know that under strict RNLI guidelines, if the lifeboat capsizes and the engine is flooded, that engine is never used again? It is sent off to be repaired and sold on, and a new engine is fitted to the lifeboat.

 

During the Summer season you can watch their exercise days every Thursday 5pm - 7pm & Sunday 10am - 1pm. On occasions our Lifeboat has the opportunity to exercise with the Search and Rescue Seaking Helicopters from either RNAS Culdrose or RAF Chivenor.

New lifeboat station on Summerleaze beach

In 2004 the Lifeboat station relocated to Summerleaze beach. A new boathouse for the lifeboat, carriage and launching tractor was completed, also providing new crew facilities and a souvenir shop. The funding for the boathouse was donated by Bridget Blundell OBE. On May 11th 2004 a new D class lifeboat (ILB 1) Henry Philip -D617 - was placed 'On Station'. The D class has been the workhorse of the service for 40 years and has continued to evolve since its introduction. It is small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescues close to shore in fair to moderate conditions. It has a single outboard engine and can be righted manually by the crew following a capsize.

Volunteer fundraising

Bude Ladies Guild was reformed on 21st June 1971 and is fortunate to have one of the original members of that committee, Mary McMahon as President. The Guild works very hard to raise funds for the RNLI and support Bude Lifeboat. They have a very successful new souvenirs shop which is built into the Lifeboat Station and to show how dedicated they are they raised over £20,000 in 2004. The last Lifeboat quiz raised a further £1009. Bude Lifeboat Day on August Bank Holiday Monday is one of the busiest in the South West and the Guild raises over £5000 with it's stalls in the marquee and outside the shop. Thirty volunteers keep the shop open for six days a week from 10am to 4pm. If you think you would like to help then pop into the shop and meet some of the Ladies who will give you any information you need.

Early Bude Crew - Lifeboat and Boathouse c1850

The original Lifeboat House can still be seen in the car park opposite The Falcon Hotel and Brendon Arms Public House. Over the entrance is the inscription: "The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea"