Today marks the 50th anniversary of a heroic rescue by Barmouth RNLI.

Half a century on from the rescue, which saw the RNLI award its first ever Silver Medals to an inshore lifeboat crew, Barmouth RNLI remembers one of the most dramatic rescues in the station’s history when three lifeboat crew risked their own lives to save a woman in trouble.

John Stockford, Colin Pugh and Dr Rob Haworth received gallantry medals for their efforts in rescuing a woman who had fallen over a cliff on 21 June 1971.

The rescue was achieved in heavy seas breaking on the shore which swamped the inshore lifeboat.

Eventually the injured woman was rescued from the site and taken to an ambulance waiting on a nearby beach. Sadly, she later died.

Will Stockford followed in his dad John’s footsteps joining the Barmouth crew and is currently helm of Aberdovey RNLI lifeboat.

He says the anniversary is a time to reflect on the tremendous bravery of all three men. His dad sadly died in 1992.

Dad of two Will, who joined the RNLI in 2003 said: "On the 50th anniversary of one of the most notorious rescues in Barmouth’s history, we’ll all be remembering the amazing courage and bravery of my dad and the other two volunteer crew members.

"With Father’s Day falling so close to the day of the rescue, I spent the day reflecting on what must have been going through my dad’s mind, having his own family and children at home, but putting himself at risk to help save lives."

Of the three crew, only Dr Rob Haworth is still alive today to mark the anniversary which also saw the crew receive The Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious service of the year performed by the crew of an inshore lifeboat.