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THE HISTORY OF TENBY LIFEBOAT
R.N.L.B. ANNIE COLLIN
1885
R.N.L.B. ANNIE COLLIN
After landing 2 men from the smack 'Anne and Betsy' and 2 more from the smack'Albatross,' both from Aberporth, during a North-North-West gale on September 25th, 1896 only a fortnight later on October 8th, the Annie 'Collin' was involved for nearly the whole day, bringing ashore the crews from several vessels in difficulties. The first call came at 2.30 a.m. as a South-Westerly gale lashed the coast, the storm later being reported as the worst that hat been experienced along the coast of South Wales for over 50 years.
The first launch was to a steamer which had been burning flares, but when the lifeboat reached her, she had got into more sheltered walter and did not require assistance. In the tremendous seas that were running, 'Annie Collin' was unable to return to Tenby and instead, landed in Saundersfoot. Her launching carriage was taken there by road and the lifeboat brought back through the narrow, hilly country lanes, a journey of some difficulty.
However, it was achieved without mishap and when, at 2 o'clock that same afternoon, a telephone message was received from Caldey Lighthouse, reporting 2 vessels showing distress signals in Caldey Roads, the lifeboat was quickly hauled out of her boathouse and made ready for launching. But it was very nearly low water and, with the fierce gale blowing from the South-Weast, it was decided to take the 'Annie Collin' on her launching carriage, along the South Sands, almoast to Giltar Point, where in slightly more sheltered water, she was successfully launched at 2.30 p.m. The crews of four vessels at anchor in the Roads, asked to be taken ashore and 5 men from the schooner 'Lake Patos' of Barrow, 3 from the ketch 'Sage,' of Caernarvon, 4 from the schooner 'Samuel Dixon' and 3 from the schooner 'Margaret,' both of Wexford, were all taken aboard the lifeboat and landed at Tenby.
Not long after landing these men at 5.00 p.m., the 'Annie Colin' was launched for the third time that day, this time to the brigantine 'Rival,' of Belfast which was in danger of dragging her anchor. Six men were taken into the lifeboat and landed at 7.15 p.m. To launch the lifeboat on occations such as those discribed above, involved hauling the boat on her carriage, considerable distances and, although horses were used to clear obstructions, the number of helpers involved were as high as 97 and 106. As a result, a system of control was introduced. A Head Launcher was appointed, to hand out brass tallies to the first helpers to arrive at the boathouse. The approved maximum number was 50 helpers for a service launch and 40 for an exercise. In 1905, as we shall see, a new boathouse and deep water slipway were built and it was found possable to reduce the number of helpers to 4.
The last service launch by the 'Annie Collin' took place on November 12th 1901. During a South-weasterly gale,accompanied by heavy seas, the schooner 'Janette Anne Jane,' of Caernarvon, was riding heavily to her anchors in Caldy Roads. At 1 o'clock that afternoon, at the height of the storm, one of her anchor-cables parted and she began dragging the other. Her crew immediately signalled for assistance and the 'Annie Collin' was launched at 1.15 p.m. and in rough seas, saved the whole crew of 4.
R.N.L.B. ANNIE COLLIN
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