Weston super Mare RNLI Station Established 1882

The station was established in 1882 at the request of the local inhabitants.  The first lifeboat was hung from davits erected on Birnbeck Pier.

1889
Lifeboat house and slipway erected on the small island jutting out from Birnbeck Pier at a cost of £700 by Mr Palmer.

1903
New lifeboat house and slipway constructed (when larger lifeboat sent to station) at a cost of £2,575 by Mr H W Pollard.

1933
The Fifi and Charles was the first motor lifeboat to be placed on the Somerset coast.

1966
D class lifeboat sent to station in May.

1969
On 12 April 1969 the Barry Dock lifeboat ON 806, on relief duty at Weston-super-Mare, broke from her moorings and was wrecked. No lives were lost. A second inshore lifeboat was sent to the station. It was decided not to re-station ON 961 or another conventional lifeboat at Weston-super-Mare.

1970
In May 1970 one of the D class inshore lifeboats was withdrawn and replaced by the McLachlan type lifeboat.

1975
Bronze Medal awarded to Helmsman Julian Morris in recognition of the courage, seamanship and determination he displayed when the McLachlan lifeboat rescued five men from the motor boat 4D which was stranded on the rocks at Brean Down in a strong north by easterly gale and a very rough sea on 13 September 1975.

1979
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Nicholas White and crew members Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard in recognition of the skill and determination they displayed when the D class lifeboat rescued three boys who were trapped by the tide in a cave on the south side of Brean and two coastguards, who had gone to their assistance in a southerly gale and a rough sea with breaking surf on 12 November 1978. The Ralph Glister Award, a monetary award for the most meritorious inshore lifeboat service in 1978, was made to Helmsman Nicholas White and crew members Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard, for this service The Royal Humane Society also awarded their testimonial on parchment to Richard Spindler and Anthony Blizzard and a certificate of commendation to Nicholas White.

1982
Centenary Vellum awarded.

1983
McLachlan replaced by Atlantic 21.

1986
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to crew member Richard Andrew Spindler in recognition of his selfless act of bravery, when he swam from the lifeboat B557 to rescue two boys cut off by the tide at Brean Down on 20 July.

2001
A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution Mr Peter Nicholson awarded to Helmsman Peter Watts, in recognition of his resolution, fine judgement and boathandling skills, when the Atlantic 75 B769 conducted a search in poor weather conditions in a treacherous operating area in surf close inshore on the night of 7/8 October 2001.