I've visited nearly all of the stations in the area in my time as deputy director of the RNLI. I remember going to Llandudno once. I didn't know where the station was so I walked along the seafront, but couldn't find it. So I walked up the other seafront, still couldn't find it.

When I asked someone where it was, they said it was 'up there' and pointed into the middle of town.

I was told it was located in the middle of town for historical reasons. In olden days, when lifeboats were rowing boats, it was highly relevant to base the boat between the two shores to be able to get to both quickly. It's irrelevant now because the boats have the power to get anywhere they need to.

But it's a lovely station, just slightly odd. I don't think any other town in Britain has a lifeboat station two blocks away from the seafront!

I also remember going to Beaumaris station a lot, too, because they had a Blue Peter boat. The television programme began to raise funds for the RNLI in the 1960s by getting people to send in old paperback books and they managed to raise enough to buy four boats - two for England, one for Scotland and one for Wales - Beaumaris. They raised over £1m in the end.

I remember when Dave Gallichan, the coxswain of the Beaumaris boat, and some of the crew went down to London to appear on Blue Peter. He was forced to wear a big, scratchy RNLI jumper - he wasn't happy coming all the way down and being told by London media-types what to wear! Then the studio lights came on and he was sweating dreadfully, but he put on a great show for the children.

John Noakes, the Blue Peter presenter, came up to Beaumaris once to film the crew. He had Shep the dog with him and had to hide at one point because some school children had found out he was there. A whole class came running across the green to the lifeboat house and besieged him, making him sign autographs.

Things have changed a bit for lifeboat crews in North Wales over the years. Before, they were kept busy with ships sailing past North Wales to Liverpool. But now they have more to do with yachting. There are stations all round North Wales who deal with yachting and it can be perilous work.
Ray Kipling