The lifeboat station at Wells-next-the-Sea is an integral part of the town and locality. The lifeboat crew, all volunteers with the exception of the Coxswain/mechanic, devote much of their time to the station and maintain a tradition of life-saving that dates back to the early nineteenth century. The first RNLI Lifeboat on station was in 1869. In 1880 tragedy struck when the lifeboat Eliza Adams capsized with the loss of eleven crew. Motor lifeboats have been on station since the 1930s and in 1963 Wells was one of the first to operate an inshore lifeboat. Today, the 12m Mersey lifeboat is always ready for launching and is an attraction to many tourists who travel to the town. Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboats is a tribute to the men who have served the Wells lifeboat station and provides an account of how the lifeboat service has changed over more than a century and a half.