Brixcam Showing the Brixham Lifeboat

About the Torbay lifeboat station in Brixham

For nearly 140 years Torbay lifeboat station has operated an all weather lifeboat and today the
station also has an inshore D class lifeboat. The crews have a remarkable history of bravery with 52
awards for gallantry.

Torbay Lifeboat brief History

In January 1866 A great gale swept the Torbay area, causing the loss of over 60 ships and the tragic
loss of nearly 100 lives. As a result, the RNLI established the lifeboat station at Brixham and the
people of Exeter raised money for the first lifeboat, City of Exeter.
In 1872 A new boathouse and slipway were built near the corner of the breakwater at Brixham
Harbour.
In 1876 A lifeboat station was established at Torquay and three different lifeboats served there until
1923 when the station at Torquay closed and Brixham station was renamed Torbay lifeboat station.

The Station was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Torbay in 1988.

The Station now has two Lifeboats - a Severn Class - Operational Number 1255 - Class Number 17-28
named 'RNLB Alec and Christina Dykes', and D651 an inflatable and named 'John William Hirst'.

People from all walks of life help the RNLI to save lives at sea.
Thousands of volunteers and staff give their time, skill and
commitment.

Volunteer crew members readily exchange leisure, comfort and sleep
for cold, wet and fatigue. Their lifesaving work is essential, often
difficult and sometimes dangerous.

The RNLI is always looking for staff and volunteers at its various
offices, stations and beaches around the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Lifeboat crew come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in
common: they selflessly make time in their own lives to save others.

All lifeboat stations have voluntary shorehelpers who help run the
lifeboat station and assist with the launch and recovery of the
lifeboat.
The RNLI depends on volunteers for everything from crewing the
lifeboats to shaking collection boxes. They are committed to
providing the best support to all their volunteers.

Lets not foget the lifeguards. Like their lifeboat crews, lifeguards save
lives in dramatic rescues, but much of their vital work is done by
preventing accidents in the first place.

Tourists, Holiday makers, Local People....Everyone is safer on and around the beaches and at sea because of the selfless effort put in by everyone within the RNLI organisation. But thats no
reason to put them to the test, so we all hjave a duty to take care when we are on Holiday and enjoying the seaside whether in the Brixham and Torbay area or any other seaside resort.