A lifeboat station was established at Brixham in 1866 following the loss of 40 merchant ships in a storm that hit the south Devon coast on 10 & 11 January 1866, resulting in the loss of nearly 100 lives . A lifeboat station was also established across the bay at Torquay in 1876. With the introduction of a motor lifeboat to the Brixham station in 1923 the Torquay station was closed and in 1924 the station name was changed to Torbay Lifeboat.

On 28 January 1920 the Brixham Lifeboat capsized while on service in an easterly gale, but the lifeboat quickly righted itself and all her crew managed to scramble back on board without loss of life.

In 1964 the station received its first inshore lifeboat to serve alongside the all-weather lifeboat.

Today the Torbay lifeboat station is served by the Severn Class All-Weather Lifeboat Alec and Christina Dykes which lies afloat on its pontoon berth and the D-Class Inshore Lifeboat Leslie & Mary Daws which is housed in the boathouse and launched from the slip adjacent to the station.

More information on Torbay Lifeboat's can be found at - LINK

Since the station was established in 1869 there have been twenty six gallantry medals awarded, one Gold, six Silver and nineteen Bronze, the last being awarded in 2008.

The volunteer lifeboat crew provide a 24-hour search and rescue service 365 days a year along the South Devon Coastline, but none of this would be possible without the support of the public and their donations. It costs in the region of £250k a year to run and maintain the service in Torbay, all of which comes from the generous donations of the public.

Through this page you can either make a simple donation to support the work of our volunteers by clicking on the "Give Now" button, or why not create your own JustGiving Fundraising Page by clicking on the "Start Fundraising" button and raise money by carrying out your own event or challenge.

Your contribution will help to fund the selfless work of our volunteer lifeboat crew who serve on the Torbay Lifeboats and by doing so you will be helping to save lives around our coast and will help provide the best equipment possible to ensure the safety of our volunteers.