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0:00:34 > 0:00:40- An Open Day is usually held - at Porthdinllaen lifeboat station...
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- ..on the Bank Holiday - in late August.
0:00:43 > 0:00:49- The weather is fine - and the lifeboat is out on the slip.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- It's one way of raising money...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- ..to keep the boathouse going.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00- Some money also goes - towards helping the crew.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03- The more, the better!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10- Open Days raise - a great deal of money.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15- It's nothing compared - to the bequests the RNLI receives.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20- The bequests - are used to buy the boats.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26- Money from fund-raising events - helps maintain the boats.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32- It's not enough to buy the boats - but it keeps them going.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37- Welcome to the lifeboat station. - Thank you for coming...
0:01:38 > 0:01:42- ..and for bringing the fine weather - with you!
0:01:42 > 0:01:44- We hope you'll enjoy yourselves.
0:01:44 > 0:01:50- When you depart, please leave - nothing behind but your footprints.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55- Children enjoy seeing a lifeboat.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- The boat is usually kept - inside the boathouse.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- They get a chance to see her - on Open Days.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09- Watching the lifeboat enter - the water is even more exciting.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- The crew have decided to hold - a training exercise today.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23- They need the practice - they're - getting fewer calls these days.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29- People have better boats - and they have better instruments.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33- The old rubbish has gone!
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- We rescue a lot of divers.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- But there's a new lifeboat station - in Trearddur Bay...
0:02:42 > 0:02:47- ..so they now get many of the calls - we used to deal with.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54- How important is the - Porthdinllaen lifeboat these days?
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- It's the biggest boat in the area.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02- They keep it going - because of the Irish ferries.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- They need a big, fast boat...
0:03:05 > 0:03:10- ..in case of an emergency - on one of the ferries.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17- They must have regular training - exercises, on sea and on land.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22- Many of the boys have done - radar courses, radio courses...
0:03:22 > 0:03:27- ..many have been to - the survival college in Fleetwood.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- A lot of us learn from each other.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36- Some learn more quickly than others - and they teach each other.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- Everyone knows a little - about everything.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- Crew members - can cover for each other.
0:03:44 > 0:03:50- There are rumours that Porthdinllaen - may get a new boat before long.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- It'll probably happen - in ten years' time.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- The boathouse - will need to be adapted.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05- She could be moored but we'll - probably need a new boathouse...
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- ..and a new slipway, - which will cost a lot.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16- For now, the 'Hetty Rampton' - is suited to her purpose.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21- The Nefyn yacht race - takes place during the Open Day.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45- Many of the lifeboat's calls - involve yachts.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- Most of these calls - occur in the summer.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55- Members of sailing clubs - are usually more competent...
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- ..and less likely - to get into difficulties.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- There's a crowd here now.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- The biggest danger - is that the food will run out!
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- No, not part of the catering...
0:05:18 > 0:05:23- ..but prizes to be picked up - before heading back to Nefyn!
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- The competition is getting fierce.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41- The 'Hetty Rampton' - nearly got an unexpected call!
0:05:45 > 0:05:49- One or two nearly had to walk - - or swim - home!
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- But there were no real problems - today.
0:05:56 > 0:06:03- The crew return to shore and the - flags are put away for another year.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- I'm the oldest crew member.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- I've been here since - the new boat arrived 12 years ago.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- My son is the youngest member.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20- I've another two years to go - before I get kicked out!
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- I've been coming here - since Dad started.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29- I carried on coming - and they let me join in the end!
0:06:29 > 0:06:34- It's nice to have two members - from the same family.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39- I have another son - and he'll probably join us soon.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- It's been a very busy weekend.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48- We had a summer buffet - at the Linksway Hotel last night.
0:06:48 > 0:06:55- There were over 150 people there. - I believe we raised nearly 2,000.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02- This is our second, and most - successful, Open Day this year.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- It has been a wonderful day.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- Winter in Porthdinllaen - is not so wonderful.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16- They get few calls in winter - but they can be very unpleasant.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22- Many calls have tested the crew's - devotion and bravery to the limit.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29- Former secretary Gwyn Jones - recalls such experiences.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- I was born in Morfa Nefyn, - close to the sea.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39- My grandfather worked - on the sailing ships in Porthmadog.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- My father - and my uncle went to sea...
0:07:44 > 0:07:50- ..as did my brother. I didn't - but I'm used to working with boats.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- I must have launched - over 200 services.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- I was up all night - and on into the following day...
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- ..during the tragedy of the 'Kimya'.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12- The 'Kimya' had got into - difficulties. She was listing.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14- She sank in a hurricane.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- We were called out to a tanker - at 2.30am.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24- She was carrying a cargo - of sunflower oil to Liverpool.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- She was about eight miles from here.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- She was listing, - because the oil had shifted...
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- ..or because water had got in.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- We rounded the headland. - Peter was the coxswain.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- We could see the red flares - from the tanker.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- She must have capsized then.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53- She had capsized - by the time we got to her.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- We pulled four bodies - from the water.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02- We searched for 12 hours - but we never found the others.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07- We lost one of the crew - when his life-jacket slipped...
0:09:07 > 0:09:11- ..and he fell into the sea. - It was terribly sad.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- We picked up another three...
0:09:14 > 0:09:20- ..and then we picked up one more - when we were on our way back.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- They were all dead - - they had drowned.
0:09:29 > 0:09:35- As dawn broke, there were fears - for the lifeboat crew's safety.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- The storm had abated - but no-one knew what was happening.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48- Some worried people had gathered - to welcome the 'Hetty Rampton' home.
0:09:57 > 0:10:03- News of the tragedy spread as four - bodies left the lifeboat station.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22- It was pitch dark. You couldn't see - where you were going.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- The boat was battered by waves.
0:10:25 > 0:10:31- We strapped ourselves in - because we were being thrown around.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- I was bruised black and blue - the following day.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41- I didn't notice it at the time - but I was bruised all over.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56- Dylan was the youngest. - It must have been on his mind a lot.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01- But he doesn't show it. - He's just as enthusiastic.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- We all felt the same.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- 888
0:11:24 > 0:11:29- One of the worst tragedies - in the RNLI's history...
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- ..was that of the Mumbles lifeboat - in 1947.
0:11:33 > 0:11:39- The 8 crew members of the 'Edward - Prince of Wales' were lost...
0:11:39 > 0:11:44- ..as they tried to rescue the crew - of the 'Samtampa'.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55- They were buried - within sight of the boathouse.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- Their gravestones - relate the sad event.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22- A stained glass window in the local - church commemorates the tragedy.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49- The 'Samtampa' had unloaded - at Middlesborough in April 1947.
0:12:49 > 0:12:55- She was due to sail to Newcastle - to pick up another cargo...
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- ..before setting out - for South America.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- She left Middlesborough - on April 19th.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- She had a very slow journey - on the North Sea...
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- ..because of heavy fog, which lifted - as they reached the Channel.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- But it became apparent - that a storm was brewing.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24- They rounded Land's End - at about 10.00am on April 23rd.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- A force eight gale - was already blowing.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41- By late afternoon, coastguards - had started receiving messages.
0:13:41 > 0:13:48- The ship was being driven by the wind - and she was dragging her anchors.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- At about 5.00pm Mumbles lifeboat - station received the message...
0:13:53 > 0:13:59- ..that the 'Samtampa' was in trouble - in the Bristol Channel.
0:13:59 > 0:14:05- Gammon and his crew set out - on the 'Edward Prince of Wales'.
0:14:05 > 0:14:11- They spent over an hour and a half - searching for the 'Samtampa'.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17- They had no radio in those days, - so they returned to Mumbles...
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- ..to see if there was further news.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26- They didn't know that the 'Samtampa' - was already wrecked.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- The 'Samtampa' was wrecked - on the rocks at Sker.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39- Porthcawl coastguards found her, - broken into three by the storm.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46- William Gammon and his crew - set out again at about 7.00pm.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50- No-one knows exactly what happened...
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- ..but the lifeboat - failed to return to Mumbles.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- She was found - not far from the 'Samtampa'.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- The 39 crew of the 'Samtampa'...
0:15:02 > 0:15:07- ..and the eight-man lifeboat crew - all lost their lives.
0:15:10 > 0:15:16- The boat was burned, as was the - custom, out of respect for the crew.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21- Many Swansea residents - still remember the funerals.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26- Communities all over Britain - offered their sympathy.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33- There should have been a crew of 40 - on the 'Samtampa'.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38- Few people realise - that one crew member survived.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- He was the donkeyman - - the stokers' foreman.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47- John Dinsmore had been out - on a spree...
0:15:47 > 0:15:52- ..the night before the ship - sailed from Middlesborough.
0:15:52 > 0:15:58- He missed the boat. The 'Samtampa' - sailed down the Tees without him.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04- But imagine how he must have felt - three days later...
0:16:04 > 0:16:10- ..when he heard the news of what - had happened to his shipmates.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- Other lifeboats - have had their share of losses.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- Tragedy has also struck - at St David's...
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- ..on two separate occasions.
0:16:43 > 0:16:49- Today's visitors know little of - the tales of outstanding bravery...
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- ..concerning - the St David's lifeboat crew.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59- Two members died in 1910 as they - rescued the crew of the 'Democrat'.
0:17:08 > 0:17:13- A local miller was a prominent - crew member for many years.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- He served as second coxswain - and coxswain.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- Dai Lewis was middle-aged in 1954...
0:17:25 > 0:17:31- ..when they were called out - to the tanker 'World Concord'.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36- He's now 96 years old but he still - remembers that occasion.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40- It took us four hours - to reach our position.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49- I noticed that when we drew up - alongside her...
0:17:49 > 0:17:55- ..her propellers were turning - - not quickly, but they were turning.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- We had to stay clear of them.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- We got all the men off the ship.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09- There were 35 of them. - We got them off one by one.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- When we drew alongside her...
0:18:12 > 0:18:17- ..the lifeboat was being lifted - 25 feet by the waves.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- We got a hold on the ship's stern.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28- We didn't see the bow - - the two parts had drifted apart.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- The propellers were turning - on the part we found.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40- The Rosslare lifeboat rescued - the sailors from the other half...
0:18:41 > 0:18:43- ..and took them back to shore.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50- The St David's crew were, of course, - volunteers.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- Most of them were farmers.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57- Dai Lewis enjoyed singing - in the local pub.
0:19:50 > 0:19:56- The worst we had was a call-out - to a small French trawler...
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- ..the 'Notre Dame de Fatima'.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- We rescued eight men off her.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- That was beyond Skomer island.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- It was blowing a westerly gale - at the time.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- We had a job - getting all eight men off the boat.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- They rescued the men - but the weather was so bad...
0:20:32 > 0:20:37- ..the lifeboat had to seek shelter - at Milford Haven.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42- But as they returned to St David's - the following day...
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- ..a crew member was lost.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50- The sea was very rough. - The boat was completely submerged.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57- We couldn't even hear - the engine running...
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- ..because the exhaust - was under water.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- The exhaust was a dummy funnel.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14- One of the crew, Ieuan Bateman, - was washed overboard.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- Not one of us - saw or heard it happen.
0:21:23 > 0:21:28- The crew returned to the station - with the terrible news.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33- Two of Ieuan Bateman's brothers, - John and Byron...
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- ..were waiting on the shore.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- I was in school on the day - the boat went out.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48- When my father came back from work, - the three of us came down here.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56- There were others here, - waiting to see what had happened.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01- As the night wore on, - we heard she was going to Milford.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- We went to Mr Griffiths' house...
0:22:05 > 0:22:10- ..and waited until we heard - they were staying in Milford.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- We then walked home.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- We all went to bed.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20- Then the police came to tell us - that they'd lost him.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- I believe his life-jacket's - buoyancy...
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- ..had lifted him out of the cockpit.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39- Perhaps he lost his grip.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- We don't know.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48- It was such a blow, losing him after - we had rescued the trawler crew.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54- One would have expected - the Bateman brothers...
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- ..to turn their backs on the sea.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- But Byron - immediately joined the crew.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- Our parents weren't too pleased - at first...
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- ..but I'd joined before I told them.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- It was then too late - for them to stop me.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- John joined later.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- I was in school - when I lost my brother.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26- I couldn't wait - until I was old enough to join.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- We were born and raised here, - near the boathouse.
0:23:31 > 0:23:37- We knew each time she went out - because we heard the maroons.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- Local children would come down here.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Older crew members would tell us...
0:23:44 > 0:23:50- ..never to close the door while - the boat was out, never shut her out.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Subtitles- by- Nia Melville, Elidir