Station History

The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world. Within the area covered by the Bristol Channel, lies the Loughor Estuary. Down through history, the Loughor estuary has been, and still is notorious for its fast flowing river, shifting sand banks, strong currents, and its seemingly effortless ability to claim lives.

In the early part of 1969, a small boy tragically drowned outside the railway bridge at Loughor. The local people started to ask why there was no rescue service available to help people in difficulty on this very dangerous estuary. This one event spurred Mr. Wilf Pitman (a member of the local St. John Ambulance) into calling a public meeting, and thus the Loughor Rescue Service was born.

The service started with a small, second hand 12 foot flat bottomed inflatable boat, and a second hand 25 H.P. outboard motor, given to them by the Ferryside Inshore Rescue Service (another St. John Ambulance Unit, 25 miles further along the coast).

In l973 enough money had been raised locally, and with significant help from Avon Inflatables, a 4 metre rigid hull inflatable boat with a 40 H.P. outboard motor was purchased. This was a much faster boat and gave greater safety to her crew.

During l977 the service saw the opportunity to purchase a 5.4 metre sea rider with centre console and 70 H.P. motor to replace the existing boat. The new boat was much bigger and faster, and increased the operational capability of the service. With this craft there would be very few conditions when the boat would not be able to launch.

As with all equipment, in l988 the crew were faced with the problem of having to replace the boat. Having no parent organisation to give them a new boat, the crew and supporters set about the arduous task of raising enough funds, not only to keep the existing boat operational, but to buy a new one as well. After much hard work by all the crew members, and again with help from Avon Inflatables, a purpose built 5.4 metre twin-engined lifeboat was purchased. The boat was named 'Community Spirit' in recognition of all the hard work and support received from the local community. The hull, tube and engine specifications allowed the boat to operate in the most difficult of circumstances. She was the most advanced boat of her class, carried up-to-date equipment, and had the most technically advanced communication equipment and engines.

In August 1998 "Community Spirit" was replaced by "Community Spirit II", another 5.4 Metre Avon Searider class boat. This boat was now made with orange fabric, for greater visibility.   The communication and navigation equipment has all been updated, the centre console has also been slightly modified. She is a boat that we are all very proud of.

Since starting in 1969, the boat and crew has never failed to answer an emergency call-out, something the crew are justifiably proud of. Up to January 1999, the service has responded to 405 call-outs, saved 78 lives, 38 animals and has had the unfortunate task of recovering numerous casualties from the water, too late to save, all of which has been done on a voluntary basis.  No crew member receives any payment, for either exercise or callouts, each crew member giving their time freely and with no question of personal reward.

Since 1969 the Loughor Inshore Rescue Service has had 4 Coxswains namely Mr. Wilf Pitman, Mr. Vince Davies, Mr. Ken Snow and the present coxswain Mr. Nigel Richards.

Since starting, 8 past and present crew members have received long service medals and 2 crew members have received bars to long service medals. For 23 years the Inshore Rescue Service was a division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade until in 1992, for increased operational requirements, the service became a self-standing and independent charity, as authorized by the Charities Commissioners.

The Rescue Service has had a long standing history of working closely with all the other emergency services, in particular The HM Coastguard, who are the principal emergency call-out agents for the boat, The RAF Air-Sea Rescue Helicopters, The RNLI, The Police, The Fire and Rescue Service, The Ambulance Service , The Air Ambulance and The RSPCA.

Each year the service finds it more and more difficult to maintain the current level of service and operation. It receives no government support and survives entirely on voluntary contributions received from the public, or donations from local councils, industries and businesses. The coxswain, crew and members of the Loughor Inshore Rescue Service would like to thank you for your past and continuing support.