New Quay RNLI's new D-class lifeboat called Will Morgan

The late Hubert Evans had donated funds for a new D-class inshore lifeboat for the station. Called Will Morgan, the lifeboat is named after Mr Evans’ father William Morgan Evans, who lived at Ianthe House and Gylfe, Aberaeron between 1875 and 1916.

It is the first lifeboat to be donated to the station with local family connections in Aberaeron and New Quay.

The lifeboat is named after Will Morgan Evans (far right) (Image: New Quay RNLI)

Mr Evans’ relatives were on hand at the station to welcome the new boat. Sue Rees, William Morgan Evans’ great, great niece, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the donation of the next inshore lifeboat for New Quay and the area. Our family has always had strong connections to the sea and has lost many loved ones at sea in the 19th century.

“The last time I saw Hubert, I had found details of a tragedy that I’d heard my grandmother talk about. A tragedy that took place off Aberaeron beach in September 1852. Eight people drowned and the only survivor, a 16-year-old, was David Evans, his father’s brother.

“He then mentioned that his father had been shipwrecked five times. When I said he was really unlucky, he contradicted me and said he had been the lucky one as he had three brothers who had all died while at sea, including a brother-in-law and his maternal grandfather and great grandfather. His cousin, living at Ianthe after the death of his parents, was lost on the Madras in 1891, a tragedy as all the crew bar one were Aberaeron men.

“Will Morgan Evans, Hubert’s father, my great grandmother’s brother, then moved away to become a Bristol Channel pilot in Port Talbot and returned to Gylfe in Aberaeron on his retirement. It’s amazing to see a lifeboat in his name as we can now honour all those that were lost at sea and remember him and Hubert Evans.”

The Will Morgan lifeboat (Image: New Quay RNLI)

Roger Couch, lifeboat operations manager at New Quay RNLI, said: “It is wonderful that our new D-class inshore lifeboat has family connections in the area and we are delighted to welcome the Will Morgan to the station.

“The family are longstanding supporters of the RNLI, and New Quay lifeboat station in particular and have demonstrated their commitment and unwavering support to the RNLI with this donation. This act of generosity means our volunteers can continue saving lives in Cardigan Bay with the most modern and up to date equipment.”

The Will Morgan will replace the Audrey LJ inshore lifeboat which has been in operation for almost 12 years.

It was named after Audrey Lawson Johnston who was just three months old when she was rescued from the Lusitania in 1915 and she and her family were inspired to become fundraisers for the RNLI and raised funds for two lifeboats at New Quay. The first was raised by Audrey and her brother in 2004 and was called the Amy Lea after their mother and in 2012 Audrey’s son and grandson raised funds for the Audrey LJ D-class lifeboat.

The official naming and dedication ceremony for the D-866 Will Morgan will be held on Saturday, May 11, with the official naming ceremony of the Roy Barker V all-weather Shannon class lifeboat taking place on the same day.