Exmouth RNLI is appealing for help putting together a historical archive charting the history of the town's lifeboat crew, boathouses and boats.

Exmouth RNLI is appealing for help putting together a historical archive charting the history of the town's lifeboat crew, boathouses and boats.

The coxswain's wife, Melanie Mock, hopes to create a historical record for the new boathouse - and is appealing for the public to unearth any history of the town's RNLI.

It is hoped photographs, documents and memorabilia can be copied and displayed in the new station.

Mrs Mock said she was keen to uncover the history of local man, Thomas Pincombe Jr - a local pilot who in 1851 was awarded an RNLI silver medal for his bravery in the rescuing of the crew of a schooner foundering on the Pole Sands.

Mrs Mock said: "We would love to learn more details of this heroic act. We are hoping someone knew the family.

"We would like to mount a series of photographs depicting boats, events and incidents around the Exmouth area, and need the help of the local community once again.

"It does not matter if the nature of the event or names of the people are unknown, we are happy to research the history.

"Also, if anyone has kept the naming ceremony programmes from any of our lifeboats prior to 1980, we would be extremely interested in seeing them."

A number of historical items from the old Exmouth inshore lifeboat station have now been given pride of place at the new boathouse.

Detailed models, the Volunteer Inn sign, plaques and photographs of past Exmouth coxswains are already up in the main lifeboat hall.

The displays will overlook the all-weather lifeboat once the boathouse becomes fully-operational after suffering several ramp mishaps.

Mrs Mock said any photos loaned to Exmouth RNLI would be handled with the greatest of care, copied and returned.

For more information, or to help, contact Melanie Mock on 07971 512383 or email Melanie.mock@sky.com.