Lifeboat is named in honour of Rhyl’s maritime hero

Oct 15 2008 by David Rutland, Denbigh Visitor

A RHYL maritime hero has been honoured after the country’s newest lifeboat was named in his memory.

Volunteer lifeboatman, Joseph Hughes was born in Rhyl in 1858 and came from a family of fishermen and lifeboatmen. He followed the family tradition and became a fisherman and a volunteer crewman with Rhyl lifeboat.

In 1898 he was appointed coxswain of the lifeboat Caroline Richardson.

And last week, a boat bearing the veteran’s name was launched at Craster, Northumberland. The £30,000 D class lifeboat was funded by Joseph’s great-grand-daughter, Gillian Smith, and her family in Dorset.

Operations manager Kevin Brown said: “Everyone at Craster RNLI is proud to have a new vessel named after such a distinguished lifeboatman and I know the crew will do their best to honour his memory.

“It will help us reach casualties more quickly and will enhance the RNLI’s lifesaving operations along the Northumberland coast.

“As a charity, the RNLI depends on donations from members of the public for its existence and without the generosity of people like Mrs Smith and her family, we would not be able to continue our vital work.”

Paying for a lifeboat in memory of their renowned relative had been a longstanding wish ofGillian’s family.

“I’m thrilled to be able to fulfil the long-held wish of my late mother, Marjorie, to fund a lifeboat. Like her, I am proud of the family’s long-term association with the RNLI,” she said.

Joseph Hughes had six sons, all of whom joined the service. In 1919, Joseph and his crew were called to save one of his own sons, a ship’s pilot called Joe.

A motor launch had followed a steamer out to take the pilot back to shore but due to a gale and heavy seas, was unable to get close enough for Joe to transfer from the steamer.

He jumped into the water and was swept out to sea. The lifeboat was launched and Joseph and his crew searched for two hours, eventually finding Joe alive though exhausted.